1846-O Quarter Eagle - 1846-O $2.5 NGC AU55 CAC. This Southern branch mint, Choice AU 1846-O Quarter Eagle shows traces of original mint luster in protected areas. The coin is a mixture of yellow, greenish-gold and orange gold with the latter being more prominent on the reverse. The surfaces are original, as attested to by the presence of the colors, and clean for the grade with no notable abrasion marks or other distractions. The strike is typical for coins from the New Orleans Mint of the era. It has strong peripheral details, for example full details on the centers of the stars, and somewhat weaker centers on both sides. The mintmark is large, and the last two digits of the date are repunched, very heavily impressed, and tilted to the right. The CAC sticker confirms that the coin is a premium quality piece that well deserves the assigned grade. 

Christian Gobrechts quarter eagle was produced without substantial modification from 1840 to 1907, the longest span in any United States coinage series. It uses the Coronet design which shows Liberty in profile facing left, her hair tied tightly in beads, except for two curls one down the back of her neck and the other on the side below her ear, with the word LIBERTY inscribed on the coronet. She is surrounded by thirteen stars, and the date is below the truncation. Dentils are around the periphery of both sides. The reverse shows a heraldic eagle facing left holding arrows and olive branch it its talons. The inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA arcs around it, interrupted by the wing tips, and the denomination 2 D. is below. The denomination is separated from the legend with dots.

In 1826 Gobrecht did his first work for the Mint as an assistant to William Kneass. After Kneass suffered a debilitating stroke, Gobrecht did all the die and pattern work for the Mint. He became Chief Engraver in 1840 and served until his death in 1844. He was famous for his Liberty Seated motif, which was used for all denominations of silver coinage including the half-dime, dime, quarter dollar, half dollar and silver dollar. He also designed the Liberty Head gold eagle, a motif that was also used on the half-cent, the cent, the gold quarter eagle, and the gold half eagle. 

The New Orleans Mint was authorized in 1835 by President Andrew Jackson, hero of the battle of New Orleans. The bill that Jackson signed also authorized the mints at Charlotte and Dahlonega. William Strickland, a Philadelphia architect designed all three branch mint buildings. The New Orleans Mint building was made in the solid, bulky Greek Revival style of architecture. It was the largest of the three branch mints and located at major port of entry. Unfortunately Strickland did not account for the soft ground around the site. Because of it, the building had to undergo numerous repairs throughout its history.

Southern branch mint gold coins are always popular with collectors and investors. In its population report, as of May 2013, CAC has confirmed 3 1846-O quarter eagles at the AU55 level.