1839-O $2.50 Liberty Gold NGC AU-58

The New Orleans Mint had only just opened its doors when this 1839-O Quarter Eagle was produced, making it one of the earliest gold coins struck at that storied Southern facility. The Classic Head design, used on the $2.50 denomination from 1834 through 1839, was in its final year of production, and the New Orleans issues of that year occupy a particularly notable place in the series. Collectors of early American gold prize these coins for their historical significance and their relative scarcity compared to Philadelphia issues of the same era.

The obverse presents the Classic Head portrait of Liberty facing left, her hair bound with a ribbon inscribed LIBERTY and surrounded by thirteen six-pointed stars arranged around the border, with the date 1839 and a small O mintmark below. The design carries bold relief with strong detail in the hair curls and drapery folds. The reverse features a heraldic eagle with wings spread, holding an olive branch and arrows, with the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA encircling above and the denomination 2½ D. below, all sharply rendered.

NGC has certified this coin AU-58, reflecting surfaces with only the lightest friction on the high points and considerable original mint luster remaining across the fields and devices. The warm honey-gold color is even and natural, with no distracting marks. As a one-year-type coin for the New Orleans Mint in the Classic Head series, this 1839-O is a genuinely sought-after piece among collectors assembling type sets or early gold date runs. For those seeking a near-mint example of this historically significant early New Orleans gold issue, this coin delivers. The coin pictured is the exact coin you will receive.

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