1854-O $10 Liberty Head Eagle, Large Date NGC MS60

Here’s a rare variety from the New Orleans Mint, one that would be a great acquisition for the specialist in O-Mint gold. Look at the images of this rarity, one that you would be proud to own. Gold specialist Doug Winter writes, “The 1854-O Large Date employs a date punch that was intended for silver dollars. According to Breen, it was first publicized in B. Max Mehl’s Atwater sale of 1946 but was almost certainly known before this. The date punch is so large it should more rightfully be called a Huge Date. It is by far the largest size date punch on any New Orleans eagle.”

NGC has graded only 4 as MS60 with 11 finer. Collectors Universe prices this variety as $27,500.00 in MS60. NGC has graded only 172 example of the Large Date 1854-O Eagle. When considering that the total mintage for the 1854-O Eagle issue was 52,500, it suggests that many were hoarded during the Civil War and perhaps melted sometimes afterwards.

The New Orleans Mint, where this great rarity was produced in 1854.

Continues Winter, “This is an interesting variety. It is scarcer than the 1854-O Small Date …. It is … very scarce in properly graded AU55 to AU58 and rare in Uncirculated.” Of the coloration, Winter tells us, “The coloration most often seen on this issue is a rich green-gold .… There are more 1854-O Large Date eagles with original color than there are examples of the Small Date.”