PCGS No: 7508

Mintage:
Circulation strikes: 215,000
Proofs: 0

Designer: James Barton Longacre

Diameter: ±12.7 millimeters

Metal content:
Gold - 90%
Other - 10% 

Weight: ±25.8 grains (±1.7 grams)

Edge: Reeded

Mintmark: "O" (for New Orleans, Louisiana) below the wreath on the reverse

Images courtesy of Global Certification Services, Inc.

Notes:
The discovery of vast quantities of gold in California prompted the issuance of a new American coin in 1849 - the Gold Dollar.  Each of the four U.S. Mints in operation at the time (Philadelphia, New Orleans, Dahlonega and Charlotte) produced Gold Dollars, with New Orleans contributing 215,000 coins to the total.  The 1849-O Gold Dollar is available in most grades, although Uncirculated examples require some searching.  MS-63 and better 1849-O Gold Dollars are considered rare.  All 1849-O Gold Dollars have an Open Wreath on the reverse, where the leaf tips are distant from the 1 of the denomination.

The finest examples graded by PCGS are 4 MS-65's (The October 2002 PCGS "Population Report" listed a single MS-66, which has since disappeared).

Recent appearances:
"Uncirculated" (illustrated above).  Ex - Sotheby's / Stack's "The 'Dallas Bank' Collection" Auction, October 29-30, 2001, Lot 219, illustrated - Mid-American Rare Coin Galleries, Inc.

EF-45.  Ex - Superior Galleries, June 2-3, 1986, Lot 1752 - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc.'s "The California Sale", October 2-3, 2000, Lot 609, sold for $345.00

EF.  Ex- Stack's "The September Sale", September 12-13, 2000, Lot 1345, sold for $172.50

Choice Very Fine.  Ex- Stack's "The September Sale", September 12-13, 2000, Lot 1346, sold for $161.00

Sources and/or recommended reading:
"The PCGS Population Report, April 2004" by The Professional Coin Grading Service