96US

Session Four - Monday February 13, 2017 4:00 pm PST

ATE

1854-O $20 L

IBERTY

1337

1854-O

NGC graded AU-53

. Popular key date. Some luster still evident. Only 3,250 struck of which perhaps only 30 to 40 pieces survive.

That makes this the second rarest New Orleans coin issued, just nudged out by the 1856-O double eagle, which has slightly fewer known

examples today. Mathematically evident is that 1 percent or so of the original mintage survives! That' s quite low for any coin. The majority of

these were likely shipped overseas for international payments an subsequently melted. One of the examples known today was recovered from

the shipwreck of the

S. S. Republic

. For reasons unknown, the vast quantities of gold coming out of the California gold rush mostly ended up

being coined in either San Fransisco or Philadelphia. Hence the low production figures for New Olreans gold coins of this decade. Today these

New Orleans rarities are among the most sought after double eagles. Ownership of one of these amazing key coins places ones name in the

hall of numismatic fame and adds a memorable quality to any advanced collection. Why not add your name to the pedigree of this high grade

and important rarity today?

Pop 4; 7 finer, 3 in 55, 4 in 58.

(

PCGS # 8912

)

Estimated Value ........................................................................................................................................................ $200,000 - 250,000

Enlargement