1846 Liberty Head Eagle. AU-55 (PCGS).

A lovely olive-orange piece with plenty of satiny luster remaining to both sides. Sharply struck and pleasingly smooth. David W. Akers' description of the 1846 in his analysis of auction records for ten-dollar eagles sums up the significance of this issue: Like the 1845, the 1846 is a grossly underrated date in this most underrated U.S. coin series. It is not easy to locate an 1846 Eagle in any condition and almost all of the relatively few known specimens are only VF or EF. No uncirculated specimen has ever been auctioned and I have never seen one in that grade. In fact, I have seen only one that I graded AU. In my opinion, few other U.S. coins are as underrated and unappreciated for their true rarity as this one and most of those are also Liberty Head Eagles. Although a few Mint State examples have surfaced since Akers penned those words in 1980 (along with six About Uncirculated coins from the treasure of the S.S. Republic ), his comments about the underrated nature and overall rarity of this issue remain true. This premium Choice AU from the Fairmont Collection, a newcomer to the census, would make an impressive addition to any cabinet.

PCGS# 8594. NGC ID: 262W.

PCGS Population: 8; 10 finer, four of which are Mint State (MS-62+ finest).

From the Fairmont Collection-Hendricks Set.

Estimate: $ 5500