1878-CC 50C MS(PCGS#6359)

The Summer 2022 Global Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

7060

Grade

MS63

Price

20,400

Lot Description

Desirable Low-Mintage 1878-CC Half Dollar Rarity Among the Finest Certified at PCGS and CAC 1878-CC Liberty Seated Half Dollar. WB-1, the only known dies. Rarity-4. MS-63 (PCGS). CAC. A frosty and boldly lustrous silver specimen with beautiful multicolored toning in iridescent reddish-apricot and cobalt blue. The strike is sharp and crisp, and the surfaces are expectably well composed at the assigned grade level. One of just 62,000 pieces struck in the terminal year of half dollar coinage at the Carson City Mint, and a date that is eagerly pursued in all grades as a result; in Choice Mint State, as here, the pursuit is usually hard and heavy. Only infrequently does this issue cross the auction block in any grade approaching Mint State, with Mint State examples a distinctive rarity within the series; how fortunate we are to offer, and our bidders are to have, a this lovely MS-63 example! Here's where the serious bidding begins. It was not until 1893 that interest in collecting mintmark coins gained any degree of respect. Prior to that hardly anyone was interested, and we suspect that not even a single numismatist sought out an 1878-CC half dollar at the time of issue. Not even the Mint Cabinet with its marvelous holdings saw fit to bother to add branch mint coins, as they were not considered to be important to collect at that time! PCGS Population: 6; 8 finer (MS-65 finest). CAC Population: 1; 5. PCGS# 6359. NGC ID: 24KP. Click here for certification details from PCGS. Image with the PCGS TrueView logo is obtained from and is subject to a license agreement with Collectors Universe, Inc. and its divisions PCGS and PSA.