1874-CC $5 MS(PCGS#8334)

The March 2012 Baltimore Auction

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

7556

Grade

AU55

Price

9,798

Lot Description

1874-CC Liberty Half Eagle. AU-55 (NGC). Lustrous deep honey gold with bold mint bloom in the protected areas. A notably rare Carson City Mint half eagle in AU or finer, this despite the fact that 21,198 examples were struck. The typical survivor from that mintage is apt to be VF or so, with only modest forays into EF territory; indeed, we note here that NGC has certified just one example of the date in MInt State, that "only" MS-61. The logjam of grading <em>events </em>at AU-55 (23 pieces) and AU-58 (16 pieces), leads us to believe that more than one of those numbered AU pieces has been resubmitted in the hope of obtaining a finer grade from the firm. Choice for the grade with great all-around eye appeal.