1839-O $2.50 Classic Head Quarter Eagle PCGS XF45

Although it is not one of the rarest New Orleans Mint quarter eagles, the 1839-O is indeed one of the most popular. It is the one and only Louisiana issue in the Classic Head series, with its mintage of 17,781 coins and a remaining population of 450 to 550 coins.  Each and every one of these 1839-O coins are highly sought, being a single-year New Orleans type with the popular obverse mintmark placement. 

PCGS has graded 64 pieces as XF45 with 159 finer. Collectors Universe gives this issue a price of $6,000.00 in XF45.

Writes Doug Winter, “The 1839-O quarter eagle is a historically and numismatically significant issue. It was the very first gold coin produced at the New Orleans mint. It is the only Classic Head issue of any denomination from this mint and the only New Orleans quarter eagle with the mintmark located on the obverse. The 1839-O quarter eagle appears to have been saved in greater quantity than older New Orleans issues of this era and it is less rare in high grades than most of the quarter eagles from the 1840s. Despite this fact it is extremely popular.”

A scale for weighing coinage used at the New Orleans Mint in the 19th century. The very popular issue offered by AUCM was struck there in 1839. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.