1891-CC $20 MS62 NGC. Variety 1-A....

Description

1891-CC Double Eagle, Exceptional MS62
Conditionally Rare, Among the Finest Known

1891-CC $20 MS62 NGC. Variety 1-A. The only known variety. Collectors seeking an 1891-CC double eagle for a date or Carson City Mint type collection will want to give this MS62 offering serious consideration because it is the highest grade that most will likely encounter. Its original production of just 5,000 pieces is the second lowest of any Carson City double eagle, trailing only the 1870-CC with 3,789 pieces. The 1891-CC can be acquired in Very Fine and Extremely Fine grades with patience and searching. More diligent searching is needed to obtain About Uncirculated pieces, and Mint State examples are very rare. The NGC and PCGS population reports show just 51 Mint State specimens, including two MS63s, the finest certified.

Several factors confine the 1891-CC to the lower levels of Mint State. First, most survivors are excessively abraded. In fact, Doug Winter in his Gold Coins of the Carson City Mint writes that: "As a rule, this is one of the most heavily abraded of all Carson City gold coins (regardless of denomination) and any piece with only moderately abraded surfaces is in great demand." Second, copper spots and mint-made grease stains are frequently seen on surviving examples. Third, the luster flow tends to be interrupted by excessive bagmarks. Fourth, strike weakness is often seen on the stars, date, and denticles. Consequently, this date is one of the most difficult CC-mint twenties to find with good eye appeal. Winter states: "An example with even slightly above-average eye appeal is very desirable."

While the moderately abraded golden-orange surfaces of the present specimen determine the numerical grade, they do not unduly impact the semireflectivity of the partially prooflike fields and their modest contrast with the motifs at various angles. Moreover, copper spots and grease stains are completely absent, and most of the design elements are sharply struck, including the date and dentilation. The four lower stars are a tad soft, as typical. In summary, this coin is considerably above-average in eye appeal, and as such is highly desirable and worthy of a generous bid. Census: 10 in 62, 1 finer (11/13).(Registry values: N7079)

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 26C3, PCGS# 9017, Greysheet# 9949)

Metal: 90% Gold, 10% Copper
Weight: 33.44 grams
AGW: 1.06oz
Mintage: 5,000

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