1852-O Gold Dollar (1852-O G$1) NGC MS64* CAC. Bright mint luster radiates from the surfaces of this exceptional branch mint 1852-O Gold Dollar. The plus given by NGC indicates that the coin is at the top of the MS64 range, which is confirmed by CAC, and the star indicates that it is a premium quality coin with excellent eye appeal. A couple of minor marks on the obverse field probably keep it from a gem grade. Except for the left side dentils, the strike is strong on the obverse but somewhat weaker on the reverse. Clash marks are seen on both sides, but they do not detract from the grade or the coins value. James B. Longacre designed three gold dollar types.

The first was the Liberty Head that was minted from 1849 to 1854. The present coin is an example of this type in which Longacre used his Coronet Head motif. A head of Liberty is seen in profile facing left. She wears a LIBERTY inscribed coronet. Her hair is tied behind her head with some curls flowing down her neck. Thirteen stars surround her, and dentils are near the edge of the coin on both sides. The reverse has an open wreath of berries tied in a bow at the bottom. The word DOLLAR is below the numeral one followed by the date above the bow. The inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is in an arc around the wreath.

The New Orleans Mint, authorized to produce gold and silver coinage, operated from 1838 to 1909. In 1839 it struck quarter eagles and dimes. In the years it was in operation as a mint, 427 million silver and gold coins with the O mintmark were coined. By the mid 1850s denominations made in New Orleans included three cent silver pieces, half dimes, dimes, quarters, half dollars, silver dollars, gold dollars such as the present coin, quarter eagles, three dollar pieces, half eagles, eagles, and double eagles. The first deposit was of Mexican dollars which amounted to more than 32,400 dollars. The first coins struck were Liberty Seated Dimes. Each year between the beginning of August and the end of November, the mint closed because of the annual outbreak of yellow fever.

With an original mintage of 140,000, the 1852-O gold dollar isa very scarce Southern mint gold dollar, especially in mint state. In MS64 there are only 12 coins showing with 2 better at NGC while PGCS shows 5 with 1 better. This does not take into account how many duplicate submissions there have been, and doesn't take into account those which have a plus sign on the holder, or plus sign and star, and there is only this single coin approved at CAC as of 12-30-2010. Having a great American gold dollar, minted way down South in New Orleans in such a state of high preservation along with having a star holder with a plus sign and approved by CAC is essentially hitting the Trifecta of grading! This is a really good gold coin!