1857-O $20.00 PCGS MS60

MINTAGE: 30,000

After three consecutive years of tiny mintage figures, production of double eagles at the New Orleans mint increased in 1857. While only 30,000 were struck, this was more than twice as many as had been made from 1854 through 1856. This shouldn’t give the impression that this is not a scarce issue as it is, in fact, very difficult to locate and it is comparable in overall rarity to the 1858-O.

STRIKE: The strike on most 1857-O double eagles is below average. The obverse shows weakness on the curls around the face and below the ear of Liberty. Weakness is also noted on the top of her head and the bun. The stars show some radial line detail, but the denticles can appear to be weak. The reverse is often weak on the wing and tail feathers and the neck feathers.

SURFACES: There are not many 1857-O double eagles that have clean, non-abraded surfaces. This was an issue which appears to have seen heavy commercial usage and most have been beaten-up as a result. In addition, many have been cleaned and show major hairlines as a result. Others have small mint-made imperfections such as grease stains, planchet chips, or roughness. All 1857-O double eagles display raised die rust near the ear of Liberty. On low grade coins this may not be visible.

LUSTER: The luster on this issue is better than one might expect, and higher-grade pieces may either be frosty or semi-prooflike. A small number of nearly full prooflike examples are known including two Uncirculated pieces designated as “PL” by NGC. It remains very difficult to locate a circulated 1857-O with unimpaired luster as most have been cleaned or dipped.

COLORATION: The natural color is medium to deep green-gold. Many are now unnaturally bright from having been cleaned or dipped. Pieces with attractive natural color do exist and these tend to bring a strong premium.

EYE APPEAL: The eye appeal is below average. Most 1857-O double eagles are not well-struck and they display heavy abrasions on the obverse and reverse. It isn’t impossible to find a CAC-quality piece, but as with most of the scarcer New Orleans double eagles, such coins are truly rare.

INTERESTING VARIETIES: Only a single variety is known.

PROOFS: There were no proofs made.

HOARDS:  There were four examples in the S.S. Republic, including three in Uncirculated. In the early 1990s, a group of approximately 40-50 pieces grading VF to AU were found in Europe. These were quickly absorbed by collectors. Stacks Bowers has so far sold six examples of this date which are from the Fairmont Hoard and it is probable that a few more remain.

BUYING TIPS:  For collectors who can’t afford the big-ticket New Orleans double eagles, the 1857-O (along with the 1858-O) tends to be their biggest expenditure in the Type One series. A collector who is patient should be able to find a decent quality example, but should be prepared to stretch for such a coin if and when it becomes available.

1857-O $20.00 NGC AU58

AUCTION RECORD:  A new record price of $234,000 was set by Goldberg 2/2021: 596, graded MS61PL by PCGS/CAC. The previous record price was held by Heritage 1/2011: 5251, graded MS62 by NGC and now in an MS63 holder. It brought $172,500.

FINEST KNOWN: The finest known is the PCGS MS63 in the Hansen-Crawford collection. It is from the Bass III sale and was earlier in the Kaufman collection. The second finest is an NGC MS63 which is ex Heritage 2011 FUN: 5251 where it sold for $172,500 as an NGC MS62.

RARITY:

TOTAL KNOWN: 250-300

BY GRADE:

  • Very Fine: 30-40

  • Extremely Fine: 170-190

  • About Uncirculated: 43-61

  • Uncirculated: 7-9

PCGS Number: 8921

POPULATION FIGURES: As of the end of 2023, PCGS has graded just five coins in Uncirculated, and MS60, an MS61, an MS61PL, an MS62 and, an MS63. NGC has graded 2 in MS60, 1 in MS62PL, two in MS62 and one in MS63* for a total of six in Uncirculated. This total includes a single coin from the S.S. Republic, an MS62.

CAC has approved two Uncirculated examples, graded MS62 and MS63.

PERFORMANCE SINCE 2002: In the current market, a choice Extremely Fine example of this date (equivalent to an EF45) would sell for $7,000-9,000. In 2002, the same coin would have sold for $2,000-3,000. In the current market, a choice About Uncirculated example of this date (equivalent to an AU55) would sell for $15,000-20,000+. In 2002, the same coin would have brought $7,500-10,000. This date has performed well in lower grades but not as well in AU. I attribute this to the fact that the grading services continue to put inferior quality 1857-O double eagles in AU 53 and 55 holders, and if quality standards would tighten you would see this date quickly shoot up in price.

COMMENTS: A lot has happened with the availability of higher-grade 1857-O double eagles since the first edition of this book was published in 2002. A small group of high-grade pieces were found on the S.S. Republic, and this increased high grade availability. The only one of these three to sell at public auction was an NGC MS60 which realized $46,000 as Heritage 3/2008: 1638. The Heritage 1/2011: 5251 coin from the Miller collection (NGC MS62) was an impressive coin which I was not previously aware of. Along with the MS63 Bass coin, these are not only the two finest known for the date but are two of the finest New Orleans double eagles, period. A new coin, later graded PCGS MS62 was found in Europe in 2016.

LAST UPDATED: 12/28/2023

1857-O $20.00 PCGS AU53 CAC