Lustrous and Scarce 1873-CC Double Eagle

1873-CC Liberty Head Double Eagle. EF-45 (PCGS). CAC.

An attractive and original example with golden wheat patina and darker accents across the high points. Considerable luster remains in the fields and complements the overall bold design elements. Quite smooth for the assigned grade, a glass is required to attune to any of the minor bagmarks. The 1873-CC is the lowest mintage Carson City Mint double eagle of the 1872 to 1877 era, with just 22,410 struck, despite a significant increase in the amount of gold bullion being mined in the nearby Comstock Lode. Most of this bullion continued to be shipped to California and, eventually, the East Coast as double eagle production at the San Francisco and Philadelphia mints increased dramatically in 1873. With only 575 to 650 survivors accounted for in all grades (per Rusty Goe, 2012), the 1873-CC ranks among the scarcer Liberty double eagles from the historic Carson City Mint.

PCGS# 8968. NGC ID: 26AJ.

From the Fairmont Collection.