Introduction:
Like the 1851-O double eagle, the 1852-O double eagle issue is readily available in circulated condition. Most of the coins seen are Very Fine or Extremely Fine. About Uncirculated examples make their way to auction with surprising frequency. The issue becomes much rarer in the higher states of preservation. There are fewer than two dozen examples that have been certified as Mint State. There were 20 examples in the S.S. Republic hoard, of which only one is Mint State. Many of the high-grade examples for the date display partially prooflike surfaces. The finest example seen by the authors has been the Dallas Bank Collection specimen, which sold uncertified in 2001 for $26,450. The authors' auction catalog notes indicated that the coin graded MS-63. It has been reported that an MS-61 example sold privately in 2004 for $25,000.
Key to Collecting: The 1852-O twenty, while scarce overall, is one of the more readily available New Orleans Mint issues. After this year the double eagles from this mint range from very scarce to very rare. Most known 1852-Os are VF to EF, a familiar mantra for all double eagles of this decade except for some notable hoard coins (mainly from the San Francisco Mint). Uncirculated coins exist, mostly at the lower end of the spectrum, some likely to be evaluated as high-end AU pieces by some observers. Perhaps the finest known is the choice (MS-63) Dallas Bank Collection coin described below.
Aspects of Striking: High grade coins are nearly always prooflike, from polishing of the dies in the New Orleans .Mint workshop. Sometimes lightly struck at the obverse center and at the stars, but more often quite sharp. Due to multiple die pairs and press runs, no single rule is applicable to all. Some have somewhat beveled rims, as made.
Die Data: Standard four-digit logotype punch for this year. 6 obverse and 4 reverse dies were shipped from Philadelphia to New Orleans. As reverse dies tended to crack more easily than obverse dies, this might indicate that some reverses were still on hand from the 9 sent to New Orleans in 1851. Following this logic, it would thus indicate that in 1851, when 9 obverse dies were sent, many if not most obverses remained unused thus yielding a usable supply of serviceable reverses to be carried over to the present year (1852). Logotype and mintmark positional differences exist.
Gold Rush Treasure from the S.S. Central America (Christie's, catalogued by QDB, December 2000) Lot 83: "1852-O AU-58 (PCGS).... This is the single finest example among five from die S.S. Central America treasure graded by PCGS. Date logotype firmly impressed and centrally located both horizontally and vertically, left edge of lower serif over space between dentils. From the same reverse die as the 1851-O double eagle offered above." Realized $9,200.
Dallas Bank Collection (Sotheby's / Stack's, October 2001) Lot 6: "1852-O Choice Brilliant Uncirculated. A glorious coin, undoubtedly the finest known: The Akers plate coin of which he wrote, 'the finest O .Mint $20 I have ever seen was an S852-O, a real gem that is now in a prominent Dallas bank collection.' Rich color with smooth, virtually blemish-free, satiny surfaces and splendid lustrous cartwheels in die fields. Sharplv struck in the centers, with all design details full, including the arrow feath¬ers on the reverse, while Liberty's features are well frosted." Realized $26,450.