1854-O Eagle - 1854-O $10 Small Date PCGS AU53 CAC. This Small Date 1854-O Eagle has subdued mint luster within protected areas of both sides. For a pre-Civil War, Southern branch mint piece, the coin is well struck. Full details are present on some of the stars, much of Libertys hair, the eagles neck, and the area to the lower left of the shield. The coin shows light wear on the highest points, which gave it a grade of AU53. The surfaces are original and clean for the grade. The CAC sticker indicates that it is a premium quality piece and well within the grade range assigned.

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.

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. By the mid 1850s denominations made in New Orleans included three-cent silver pieces, half-dimes, dimes, quarters, half dollars, silver dollars, gold dollars, 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.

In its population report, PCGS shows 21 Small Dates of 1854-O in AU53 condition with 20 better. As of July 2012, CAC has confirmed 3 in AU53 with 7 better.