1874-CC $5 MS(PCGS#8334)

August 2018 ANA U.S. Coins Auction Philadelphia, PA

拍卖行

Stack's Bowers

批号

1278

等级

AU58

价格

262,711

详细说明

Important Choice AU 1874-CC Liberty Half Eagle 1874-CC Liberty Head Half Eagle. Winter-1-B. AU-58 (PCGS). CAC. The underlying mint luster remains clearly visible around the devices especially along the peripheries where it casts a wonderful frosty halo on an even brilliant dark amber surface. The reverse is uniformly lustrous with exceptionally smooth fields for the assigned grade bereft of the typical abrasions that afflict this issue, serving to highlight the remarkably bold strike for a mint that still occasionally struggled to achieve consistency. The present example was struck from the obverse die that is readily identifiable by the presence of a prominent raised die mark on the bridge of Liberty's nose. Less obvious but an equally important die marker is a thin die scratch through the letter I in LIBERTY. On Winter reverse B, the CC mintmark is placed somewhat to the right with the second C over the junction of the letters VE in FIVE. With a total of 21,198 pieces struck, Carson City produced more half eagles in 1874 than at either Philadelphia (with only 3,488 coins) or at San Francisco (with 16,000 coins). Carson City's output was almost exclusively used locally where the denomination served yeoman's duty in daily commercial activity, rather than in international trade like many of the coins produced at Philadelphia and even San Francisco. Despite this, there is a very high attrition rate among Carson City half eagles, with at most around 1% remaining. The 1874-CC half eagle is the most accessible of the denomination from this decade with as many as 200 to 250 extant specimens. As with most issues from this storied Nevada facility, by far the vast majority of these coins are in the VF or EF grade levels, with significantly smaller amounts at the low end of the AU scale. At the Choice AU and above level, this issue is a widely recognized condition rarity, with only three Mint State grading events reported by PCGS. While there are 8 events noted at the AU-58 level by PCGS, it is almost certain that a couple of those are recertifications hoping to receive the vaunted MS designation. The CAC mark of superior eye appeal and quality helps lend credence to this coin's inclusion on the Condition Census. A remarkable coin worthy of a place of honor in an advanced Western gold cabinet. Provenance: From the York Collection. PCGS Population: 8; just 3 finer through MS-63+. PCGS# 8334. NGC ID: 25WP. Click here for certification details from PCGS.