MINTAGE: 190,000

The 1852-O is the second most available double eagle from New Orleans in terms of overall rarity, and it is the most common in higher grades (AU55 and higher). It becomes somewhat difficult to locate in properly graded AU55, and it is scarce in AU58. It is very rare in Uncirculated and extremely rare in MS62 and higher.

STRIKE: The quality of strike seen on the 1852-O varies. Some are found with good strikes with sharp definition on the hair and feathers. Many have weakness on the lower curls (particularly on the curl below the ear of Liberty) and the corresponding reverse. It is common to find examples of this date with noticeable beveling on the rims, both on the obverse and on the reverse.

SURFACES: Most 1852-O double eagles are very heavily abraded. A smaller number are seen with mint-made planchet chips or other minor planchet defects. Choice, clean examples are available but they are scarce and they generally bring a strong premium relative to “typical” quality coins.

LUSTER: The type of luster seen on this date tends to be a hybrid of frosty and satiny, and on higher grade coins it can be attractive. Some semi-prooflike or even fully prooflike coins are known. The luster on this issue tends to be better than that found on the 1851-O, and this makes the 1852-O a good choice for a New Orleans Type One type coin.

COLORATION: The natural coloration is medium to deep green-gold. On some examples the hue is more of a lighter yellow-gold. It has become hard to find an 1852-O double eagle with natural color as most have been dipped or processed. With patience, however, it should be possible to locate an above-average example.

EYE APPEAL: This date has better eye appeal than any other New Orleans double eagle but it is still below average when compared to Philadelphia issues of this type. There are some very attractive 1852-O double eagles in all grade ranges (Extremely Fine, About Uncirculated, and Uncirculated) but these have become hard to find. A CAC quality 1852-O generally commands a 20-30% premium over a typical example.

INTERESTING VARIETIES: There are minor positional varieties known but none are of interest to collectors.

PROOFS: No Proofs were struck this year.

HOARDS: A total of 17 were found in the S.S. Republic. Five examples were found in the S.S. Central America. Only two were reported to have been in the Baltimore Hoard. A single EF45 example was found in the Saddle Ridge Hoard. The finest coins from the Fairmont Hoard were are a pair of PCGS MS61’s.

BUYING TIPS: Every collection of Type One double eagles should have at least one really nice New Orleans issue, and the 1852-O is your best choice. Don’t overbuy this date, but at the same time if you are offered a truly choice example with good color and clean surfaces don’t be afraid to stretch for it. The level of demand for nice New Orleans double eagles should continue to be strong in the coming years.

AUCTION RECORD: The current auction record for this date was set by Heritage 8/2018: 5296, graded MS65 by NGC, which sold for $300,000.

FINEST KNOWN: The clear finest-known for this date is the Henry Miller coin, graded MS65 by NGC, which was obtained privately from Stack’s in the 1970s; it later brought $276,000 as Heritage 2011 FUN: 5243 and, still later, $300,000 in the Heritage 9/2018 sale. The next best is an NGC MS63 from the Dallas Bank collection. There are four or five graded MS62. These include the Hansen-Crawford coin (PCGS MS62) obtained from the Norweb sale, a PCGS MS62 which I sold to a New England collector which is ex Heritage 2006 ANA: 5580 ($48,815), and a PCGS MS62 which is ex Stack’s Bowers 2014 ANA: 12005 ($94,000), ex Gilded Age collection, Bowers and Merena 5/00: 771 (Bass III), Harry Bass collection.

RARITY:

TOTAL KNOWN: 1150-1350+

BY GRADE:

• Very Fine: 360-450

• Extremely Fine: 450-530

• About Uncirculated: 325-350

• Uncirculated: 15-20

PCGS Number: 8907

POPULATION FIGURES: As of the end of 2020, PCGS had graded 6 in MS60, 10 in MS61, 6 in MS62, and 2 in MS62+ for a total of 24 coins in Uncirculated. NGC had graded 11 in MS60, 1 in MS60PL, 11 in MS61, 2 in MS62, 2 in MS63, 1 in MS65, for a total of 28 coins in Uncirculated. These figures are slightly inflated by resubmissions.

CAC has approved four coins in Uncirculated, two each in MS60 and MS61.

PERFORMANCE SINCE 2002: In the current market, a Choice Extremely Fine 1852-O double eagle (equivalent to an EF45) sells for $3,000-4,000+. Back in 2002, the same coin would have sold for $1,000-1,500. Today, a Choice About Uncirculated 1852-O (equivalent to an AU55) sells for $7,000 to $9,000. Back in 2002, the same coin would have sold for $3,500-4,500.

COMMENTS: Huge numbers of About Uncirculated have been graded by both services, especially by NGC. I think these numbers are way inflated by resubmissions, plus many of the AU50 and AU53 coins are no better than Extremely Fine in my opinion. The 1852-O remains the most available New Orleans double eagle in higher grades and, as a result, such coins are popular with both date and type collectors. It is becoming increasingly hard to find examples with choice, original surfaces but they are still out there and trade privately or at auction.

LAST UPDATED: 12/24/2023