LIBERTY
HEAD (NO MOTTO ON REVERSE) TWENTY DOLLARS OR DOUBLE EAGLE
(1849-1866)
1853-O Double Eagle
1853-O
Double Eagle or $20 Gold
PCGS
No:
8910
Circulation
strikes Mintage:
71,000
Proofs:
Unknown
Designer:
James Barton
Longacre
Diameter:
±34
millimeters
Metal
content:
Gold - 90%
Other - 10%
Weight:
±516
grains (±33.4 grams)
Edge:
Reeded
Mintmark:
"O"
(for New Orleans, LA) below the eagle's tail on
the reverse.
Introduction:
As can been seen from the much lower mintage, the
1853-O double eagle is considerably rarer than the
preceding double eagles from the New Orleans Mint.
While scarce, collectors willing to settle for a Very
Fine or Extremely Fine coin will have little trouble
locating an example. Most of the coins seen are softly
struck in the central portions, and high-grade examples
are usually prooflike. A very small number was found
on the wrecks of the S.S. Central America and S.S.
Republic. There are fewer than 10 examples known in
Mint State. An MS-62 example was sold privately in
2003 for more than $65,000. Key to Collecting: The 1853-O is
the gatekeeper to what becomes a series of hard-to-find
New Orleans double eagles. Aspects of Striking: Usually with
areas of light striking at the center of the obverse
and reverse. Always with prooflike surface, this visible
on higher grade pieces, this from the usual die polishing
at the New Orleans Mint. Die Data: Standard four-digit logotype
punch for this year. 6 obverse dies were sent to New
Orleans, with no record of additional reverses indicating
that some must have been left over from earlier times.
Date and mint-mark positional variations exist.
Doubling on Stars: One has doubling on the
obverse stars (Breen-7164).
Number of Appearances:
108 (24%)
High Grade Condition Points: 25
Average Grade: VF-33
Auction Records: (6) Unc: Auction'81; ANA 1976; New
England 11/75; PineTree6/7S; MC 1948; WGC 1946
(13) AU:
Auction 79; AAA 11/74; Stack's 12/73; Scanlon 10/73;
9/72; Kreisberg/ Cohen 9/71; ANA 1971; Stack's6/70;
Merkin 10/69; Miles 1968; Stack's5/68; ANA 1963; Holmes
1960
(39) EF: Stack's 12/81,9/81, 3, 81;
Auction '80(2); New England 1/80; Ivy 12/79; ANA 1979;
Stack's 6/79. 2/79; New England 1 1/78; Pine Tree
1/78; Ivy 1/78; New England 11/77; Ivy 10/77; Stack's4;
77; New England 3'76; GENA 1975; Pine Tree 6 75; Paramount
5/75; Stack's 4/30/75; ANA 1974; Pine Tree 3/74; Gilhousen
1973; Stack's 4/71; Paramount 2/71; Merkin 6/70; ANA
1969; Paramount 10/68; Stack's 12 67; Paramount 11/67,
10/66; Kosoff 10/65; Ward 1964; Bell 1963; Wolfson
1962; Baldenhofer 1955; Bell 1944; Ten Eyck 1922
(45) VF: New England 6/81; Stack's
3/81; New England 4/80; Superior 10/79; New England
7/77; Paramount 4/77, 1/77,5/76; Peters 4/76; New
England 11/75; AAA 9/75; Superior 10/74; Paramount
2/74, 5/73, 11/72; Superior 3/71; Paramount 11/70,5/70;
Stack's 1/70; Paramount 11/69; Stack's 3/69; ANA 1968;
Shuford 1968; Stack's 5/68; Paramount 10/67; Stack's
6/67, 4/67; Paramount 4/67, 2/67, 11/66; Stack's 10/66;
Paramount 5/66; Bolt 1966; Paramount 3/66; Stack's
2/65; Paramount 2/65; Walton 1963; ANA 1956(2); Melish
1956; Baldenhofer 1955; Farouk 1954; Lee 1947; Atwater
1946; Roach 1944
(5) Fine: ANA 1975; Kreisberg/Cohen
11/70; Paramount 11/67;Golden I962;Menjou 1950
Comments: This issue is very scarce in all grades and
is extremely rare in full mint state. Overall, among
O-Mint issues, it ranks as the fourth most common
after the I851-O, I852-O, and 1850-O, although it
is more likely to be available in high grade than
the 1850-O. The vast majority of known specimens grade
in the VF to EF range and strictly graded AU-50 or
better pieces are seldom seen. Personally, 1 have
seen only one true unc but from the auction records
it is certainly likely that another one or two may
exist. In terms of rarity according to average grade,
the 1853-O ranks in the top 20 coins (tied for 17th)
in the entire series. All specimens that I have seen
were either semi-prooflike or prooflike.
