Description
This is a 1879-O $10 LIBERTY GOLD EAGLE – PCGS GENUINE ALTERED SURF, AU DETAIL-RARE! THE 1879-O $10 IS ONE OF THE TRUE RARITIES OF THE $10 LIBERTY SERIES. ACCORDING TO DOUG WINTER: “The 1879-O has the second lowest mintage figure of any New Orleans eagle and the second lowest mintage figure for any gold coin struck at this mint. It is the third rarest New Orleans eagle in terms of overall rarity, trailing the 1883-O and the 1859-O. There was just a single example of this date in the Bass collection and many of the great gold sales of the past either lacked an 1879-O eagle or were represented by an off-quality piece. The 1879-O is the third rarest New Orleans eagle. Only four to five dozen are known from an original mintage figure of 1,500. About eighty percent of the survivors grade VF to EF and are characterized by densely abraded surfaces. A properly graded AU50 to AU53 is rare and an AU55 to AU58 is very rare. In Uncirculated, the 1879-O eagle is unique.” THE PRESENT EXAMPLE IS OF AU-58 QUALITY FROM A TECHNICAL STANDPOINT, SAVE FOR THE SURFACES WHICH HAVE BEEN ALTERED TO HIDE AN OLD CLEANING. THE REVERSE OF THE COIN IS ARGUABLY FULLY MINT STATE, BUT AGAIN, ONLY FROM A WEAR STANDPOINT. DESPITE THE UNNATURAL APPEARANCE OF THE SURFACES (MOST NOTICABLY, THE LACK OF LUSTER), AND THE OVERALL AFFECT THAT THIS COMPONENT HAS ON THE PIECE’S VALUE, THIS IS STILL A VERY RARE COIN. SURVIVAL ESTIMATES RANGE FROM A LOW OF 30 PIECES KNOWN TO PERHAPS AS MANY AS 50, BUT AS MANY AS HALF OF THESE MAY PRECLUDE A STRAIGHT GRADE. THERE ARE VERY FEW TRULY AU PIECES KNOWN, AND WINTER’S COMMENTS ABOVE ALLUDE TO THE RARITY OF A TRULY MINT STATE EXAMPLE. FOR THOSE THAT DON’T FIND $50,000+ TO SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS WITHIN THEIR BUDGET, THE PRESENT EXAMPLE OFFERS A NICE ALTERNATIVE. MOST COLLECTORS COULD NEVER FATHOM OWNING AN 1879-o $10 LIBERTY, IRRESPECTIVE OF GRADE. THIS IS CERTAINLY AN IMPORTANT COIN, AND FOR SOME LUCKY COLLECTOR, A HOLE FILLED THAT FEW OTHERS WILL SHARE! Our commitment is to provide you with quality coins and collectibles at the best possible prices. This piece is no exception. Please note, the coin and collectibles markets do fluctuate, and prices occasionally will change. In this rare circumstance, we will contact you first to verify your order.
