1846-O $2.50 (1846-O Quarter Eagle) NGC AU58 CAC. Subdued mint luster glows within the devices of this Southern branch mint 1846-O Quarter Eagle. The strike is strong especially for a pre-Civil War branch mint. CAC has confirmed the grade of AU58, which indicates that this is a choice piece for the grade.

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 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.

Authorized to produce gold and silver, the New Orleans Mint struck quarter eagles and dimes in 1839. It operated from 1838 to 1909. In that time period 427 million silver and gold coins with the O mintmark were coined.

In its population report as of April 2011, CAC confirmed 8 1846-O quarter eagles with 3 better.