1844-O $5 Liberty Head Half Eagle NGC MS62 Ex. SS New York

This specimen is stunning, well-struck, and difficult to locate in this state of preservation. NGC has graded 18 as MS62, with 21 finer.

Gold specialist Doug Winter gives us the lowdown on the 1844-O five:

The 1844-O is the most common No Motto half eagle from the New Orleans mint. It is readily available in the lower circulated grades and can be found in the middle to upper ranges of AU without much difficulty. It is scarce in MS60 to MS61, very scarce in MS62, rare in MS63 and very rare above this. There is one Gem Uncirculated and one Proof currently known.

STRIKE: This is generally a very well struck issue. The obverse often shows nearly full definition, although there may be some weakness on the curls below BERT in LIBERTY. The reverse tends to be not quite as well struck, although it is still well detailed by the standards of No Motto New Orleans half eagles. There is sometimes weakness seen on the eagle’s neck and upper leg feathers as well as on the horizontal lines of the shield. With some patience, the collector should be able to locate a well struck example of this date.