1852-O Gold Dollar (1852-O G$1) NGC MS64. This premium quality branch mint 1852-O Gold Dollar is characterized by radiant mint luster and clean surfaces. Were it not for a couple of very minor ticks, this coin would be a gem grade or better. The strike shows some obverse weakness on Liberty’s hair, the dentils, and lower stars. The reverse shows weakness on the bow and some of the letters of the legend. The coin was struck from slightly rotated dies, although this mint error is not noted by NGC. The obverse shows Liberty facing left. On her head is a coronet inscribed LIBERTY in incuse letters. Her hair is combed back into a hair knot. Loose hair encircles her head beneath the coronet, and several curls hang down her neck. Encircling her head are thirteen six-pointed stars. Dentils are near the edge on both sides of the coin. The reverse has an open wreath of berries tied in a bow at the bottom. A large numeral one is near the top. The word DOLLAR is underneath, and the date is below the denomination. The inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is in an arc around the wreath.

Prior to gold dollars being issued in 1849, private minters supplied miners with a means of converting their oar and gold dust into currency. However, since the coins produced were variable in fineness and often counterfeited, a bill was introduced in 1844 for the government to make gold dollars. Mint Director Robert Patterson was opposed. He lied when he claimed that there was no public demand for these coins. The truth is that Patterson did not want James Longacre making new dies because it might interfere with his friend Franklin Peale’s medal-making business that was being run out of the Mint. Patterson hoped that Longacre’s job would be abolished if new coinage was not needed. Despite Patterson’s objections, Longacre prevailed and made the new dies for the gold dollar.

With an original mintage of 140,000, the 1852-O dollar is not abundant toady, especially in mint state. In its population report NGC shows 428 certified in all grades. In MS64 there are 12 with 2 better. PGCS has 5 in MS64 with 1 better.