1844-O $10 Liberty Head Eagle NGC AU55

Here's an attractive Antebellum relic from the historic New Orleans Mint, one that would be an excellent gold type coin. Doug Winter writes, "The 1844-O is one of three New Orleans eagles from the 1840s with a mintage of over 100,000. It is among the more common issues from this decade but it is a very rare coin in higher grades."

Ron Guth writes in PCGS Coinfacts, “Despite a relatively high mintage of 118,700 coins, the 1844-O Eagle is a scarce date. The grade seen most frequently is XF40. AU examples are … rare and only a few … pieces are known in Mint State.” NGC has graded 103 as AU55 with 80 finer. Collectors Universe gives this issue a price of $4,500.00.

Writes Winter of the strike, “This is a reasonably well struck issue that generally has all of the central detail plainly visible, with the exception of the curls below LIB in LIBERTY and those behind the ear, which are weak. The reverse is better struck, although weakness is sometimes seen on the eagle’s neck feathers.”

Coin scale used at the New Orleans Mint during the 19^th century. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.