Mintage: 2,500
Population: 26
The 1841-O is a crucial coin in the New Orleans No Motto Eagle set because it is the first year in which the New Orleans Mint produced the eagle denomination. It is also the second rarest date in the set behind the 1859-O eagle and is very scarce in all grades.
In 1841, the New Orleans Mint struck just 2,500 coins, and there are less than 100 survivors known today in all grades. In fact, the 1841-O is one of the rarest gold coins produced in any denomination from the New Orleans Mint. Most of the examples found grade from VF20 to XF40. Properly graded XF45 examples with original choice surfaces are tough to locate. NGC and PCGS show a combined XF45 population of just 26 coins. However, I believe this number is significantly inflated due to resubmissions. As of today, there are no known 1841-O eagles in Uncirculated.
The 1841-O eagle is a coin that is very challenging to acquire for New Orleans eagle collectors. Opportunities to buy nice, original coins are few a far between. This NGC XF45 example is just the fourth 1841-O eagle we have purchased in the last three years.