1870-CC $10

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Legendary 1870-CC Liberty Eagle, Condition Census (AU 50 NGC) Status

1870-CC $10 AU 50 NGC. Incredibly, almost implausibly, this is the second high grade representative of this exceedingly rare issue that we have offered this year. The first coin, an NGC AU 55 example--the finest certified 1870-CC eagle--appeared as lot 7603 in our June 2000 Long Beach Signature Sale. This is the second specimen, and it is no less impressive. Both sides display a deep, reddish-gold sheen that adequately conceals many of the small abrasions. The quality of strike on the '70-CC eagle is generally superior to that found on the similarly dated half eagle and double eagle. This coin is well defined over the star centrils and select areas of the portraits, but the strike is slightly uneven. In particular, Liberty's hair curls and the eagle's neck and left (facing) shoulder feathers are softly impressed. We mention these features only for the sake of accuracy and not to denigrate the overall eye appeal. For pedigree purposes, we call one's attention to a group of nearly horizontal abrasions in the reverse field above the eagle's right (facing) wing.
The 1870-CC was the first gold coin produced at the Carson City Mint. Most, if not all of the 5,908 pieces delivered were placed directly into circulation. With an extant population of no more than 30 coins, this issue is the rarest CC-mint eagle in all grades. Winter and Cutler (1994) also believe that this issue edges out the 1870-CC double eagle for top rarity honors among all gold coins struck in Carson City.
Relying predominantly upon the Winter/Cutler reference on CC-mint gold coinage, the current Condition Census listing for the 1870-CC eagle is roughly as follows:

Ex: June 2000 Long Beach Sale (Heritage, 6/00), lot 7603. This is the aforementioned NGC AU 55 example.
Ex: 1999 Chicago ANA Sale (Heritage, 8/99), lot 8117, where it realized $26,000. The present coin.
Ex: Auction '79 (RARCOA, 7/79), lot 1307, where it realized $7,750. The coin was graded About Uncirculated at the time of the sale.
Ex: J.C. Morgenthau (12/10/35); Norweb Collection (Bowers & Merena, 3/88), lot 2197, where it realized $10,450; Michigan collection. Graded XF 45 in the Norweb catalog.
Ex: Wayman Collection (Stack's, 9/81), lot 81. Winter asserts that this coin graded XF 40.
Ex: Bass Collection (Bowers & Merena, 10/99), lot 1520, where it realized $25,300. PCGS graded this coin XF 45.

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 264U, PCGS# 8658, GSID# 9471)

Metal: 90% Gold, 10% Copper
Weight: 16.72 grams
AGW: 0.48375oz
Mintage: 5,908

View Certification Details from NGC

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