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Description

Conditionally Rare 1871-CC Twenty, AU53

1871-CC $20 AU53 NGC. Numismatists would be fascinated to know that the combined mintage of all double eagles struck at the Carson City Mint is only 864,128 coins. That is less than one million coins out of a production of 19 different issues between the years of 1870 and 1893. When considering the wholesale meltings during the 1930s, widespread circulation of most CC issues and other causes of attrition, it's no wonder that certain dates are so difficult for collectors to locate. Of the 19 issues, the 1871-CC is considered the second rarest by Carson City gold experts, with approximately 200 coins extant in all grades. The Guide Book of Double Eagle Gold Coins by Dave Bowers suggests that 21 pieces exist at the AU53 level. The NGC Census Report and the PCGS Population Report put the number slightly higher, but one must consider how the reports can become skewed through the phenomenon of resubmissions. Perhaps Doug Winter, in his Gold Coins of the Carson City Mint (2001), sums it up best when he wrote: "The 1871-CC is the second rarest Carson City double eagle. When available, the typical piece grades Very Fine to Extremely Fine. This is a very scarce date in About Uncirculated and most of the pieces known in this grade range are no better than About Uncirculated-50. The 1871-CC becomes rare in About Uncirculated-55 and it is very rare in About Uncirculated-58. This is an extremely rare coin in Uncirculated with just two or three pieces currently known." Bowers (2006) estimates the number of Uncirculated '71-CC dollars in existence to be no more than six. This fact leaves most collectors more than content with the acquisition of a respectable AU53 example.
Attractive green-gold coloration and a solid strike, for the issue, are the highlights of this coin. The mildly abraded surfaces display a semiprooflikeness and are what one would expect to see on an 1871-CC twenty. For most collectors, this is as good as it gets.(Registry values: N1793)

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 26AB, PCGS# 8961, GSID# 9913)

Metal: 90% Gold, 10% Copper
Weight: 33.44 grams
AGW: 1.06oz
Mintage: 17,387


Note for clients in the European Union: This lot is considered by the European Union to be “investment gold”. We believe that it meets the criteria established in Article 344(1), point (2) of Council Directive 2006/112/EC and thus should be exempt from import VAT regardless of the selling price. Any questions or concerns about VAT should be addressed to your accountant or local tax authority.

View Certification Details from NGC

The Confident Carson City Coin Collector
by Rusty Goe

The Carson City Mint’s celebrated legacy — replete with landmark achievements, setbacks, mysteries and tall tales — is covered in exacting detail in Goe’s three-volume set.

Auction Info

Auction Dates
January, 2008
9th-12th Wednesday-Saturday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 7
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 1,160

Buyer's Premium per Lot:
15% of the successful bid per lot.

Sold on Jan 10, 2008 for: $41,400.00
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