1877-CC $5 MS(PCGS#8343)

August 2011 Chicago ANA World's Fair of Money Auction

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

9443

Grade

AU50

Price

7,188

Lot Description

1877-CC Liberty Half Eagle. Winter 1-B. AU-50 (NGC). Bright yellow gold with olive highlights, attractive mint bloom in the protected areas, and some reflectivity in the fields. From a mintage of just 8,680 pieces, the vast majority of those worn to VF or slightly better&nbsp;from prolonged activity in commerce in the Carson City area. "While comparable in rarity to such dates as the 1872-CC, 1875-CC, and 1876-CC, this is an issue that is curiously overlooked. It is very hard to find in any grade and in high grades it is very rare" notes the Winter source book. Indeed, the NGC <em>Census</em> is entirely devoid of Mint State specimens of the date. Not heavily marked, which is a pleasant change from the typical 1877-CC half eagle, and with a fair degree of design boldness present as well.