1855-O Gold $1 (1855-O Gold Dollar) NGC MS61. This mint state Southern branch mint 1855-O Gold Dollar shows bright luster within the devices. Except for very light and small abrasion marks, the surfaces are clean and original. There is slight central weakness in Libertys hair on the obverse and the LL and date of the reverse. However, this date usually shows much more weakness than the present coin exhibits. Clash marks are seen on both sides of the coin, which was struck by rotated dies. Neither the rotation nor the clash marks detract from the coins grade or value.

This Indian Princess motif, designed by James B. Longacre, is the second attempt at a dollar coin. The first used a version of the Liberty Head, Coronet design. However, because of its similarity to the quarter eagle, the design was discontinued after six years of being minted. The Indian Princess motif is, therefore, a Type 2 it being the second design of the denomination.

The coins did not strike up well because the relief portions of the design were placed opposite of each other. Because the branch mints had been using presses that were older than those in use in Philadelphia few of their dollars were well struck enough to bring out full details on the central portions of the design. In addition to weakness on the central hair, the 8, and the LL, the date was sometimes partly or wholly blurry or illegible. While the present coin shows some weakness, as noted above, it has one of the better strikes for the date and branch. Of course this problem of striking could not have been anticipated by Longacre because the proofs that he saw were struck at Philadelphia, which had the capability to impart full strikes to its coins.