After it was shut down in 1861, the New Orleans Mint resumed operations in 1879. Very small numbers of eagles and double eagles were made. For reasons still not entirely known, double eagles were never struck again at this mint, however, production of eagles continued until 1906. The 1879-O double eagle is a rare and very desirable issue. It is the only Type Three double eagle from this facility and the only Type Three that qualifies as an important one year type.

Expert’s Corner: 1879-O Double Eagle

The 1879-O is one of my favorite Type Three double eagles. This is a coin that has everything going for it: one-year status, first-year-of-issue, low mintage, a high degree of rarity and demand that is spread among many types of collectors. I am excited every time I handle an example, and serious collectors should have this date high on their Type Three want lists! 

This is a reasonably well struck issue when one considers that this mint had not made double eagles since 1861. The obverse is better struck than the reverse, with many coins displaying nearly full detail on the hair of Liberty, the bun and the stars. Some coins show weakness on the obverse denticles. 

Characteristics and Collectability of the 1879-O Double Eagle

The reverse is not as well detailed, and the lower border is often weaker than the upper portion. Most 1879-O double eagles are very heavily abraded with deep, detracting marks in the fields. In addition, some pieces have mint-made copper spots or black grease stains. These do not affect the value of the coin unless they are severe and/or prominent. On higher grade examples, the luster tends to be frosty while a few semi-proof-like coins are known. The coloration ranges from a light yellow-gold to a deeper green-gold hue. Locating an example with good eye appeal is very difficult but not impossible, and the collector should be patient. Nice 1879-O double eagles are exceptionally popular and command strong premiums.