1846-O Quarter Eagle - 1846-O $2.50 NGC MS60. Here is a Mint State, Southern branch mint 1846-O Quarter Eagle. The coin is well struck with full details on the centers of the stars, Libertys hair, and the eagles neck. Most coins of this denomination and mint are softly struck; however, this piece is a notable exception. The surfaces are light and dark yellow gold with significant mint luster within the devices. The presence of these elements confirms the coins originality. There are virtually no abrasion marks or other distractions that are visible without magnification. The combination of the coins clean lustrous surfaces and strong strike make for outstanding eye-appeal. 

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.

Christian Gobrecht designed the quarter eagle. It 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. The mintmark is below the eagle and above the denomination.

The 1846-O quarter eagle is rare in Mint State. In its population report, NGC has certified only 2 at the MS60 grade level.