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Description

1871-CC Five Dollar, AU58
Conditionally Rare With Original Surfaces
Just Three or Four Coins Finer

1871-CC $5 AU58 PCGS. CAC. Variety 1-C. Ex: Bender Collection. The Carson City Mint expanded half eagle production from 7,675 coins in its first year of operation (1870) to 20,770 coins in its second (1871). In his must-have new reference on CC coinage, The Confident Carson City Coin Collector, Rusty Goe calls the 1871-CC half eagle one of the "bright stars" in the 19-coin Nevada mint series, noting that it "serves as an important bridge leading from the decidedly rare 1870-CC half eagle to some of the other nearly equally challenging dates in the series to acquire, namely, 1873-CC and 1878-CC, and then on to the building of a complete set."

About 140 to 180 examples of the 1871-CC Liberty Head five dollar gold piece survive from that 20,770-coin mintage -- a rate of 0.7% to 0.9%. Keep in mind these coins were struck before there was any interest in collecting by mintmark and at a time when specie was desperately needed in Western circulation. Just three or four pieces qualify as Mint State though the certification totals are higher, inflated by resubmissions and crossovers. Goe writes of coins in AU58: "... it appears as if the pool of coins in this division is pretty much fixed at nine." His estimate based on a survey of auction appearances assumes that roughly half of the eight grading events at PCGS and eight more at NGC are duplications.

The borderline-Mint State rarity, which boasts the approval of CAC, exhibits rich red-gold color and partial mint luster. The stars are fully formed, as are Liberty's curls. The central reverse is trivially softer, yet the olive leaves, talons, fletchings, and feathers maintain strong detail. Light abrasions include a single noteworthy mark under the right (facing) wing. Minor die clash occurs below the eagle's beak. Population: 8 in 58 (1 in 58+), 2 finer. CAC: 5 in 58, 0 finer (6/22).
From The Bender Family Collection, Part I. (Registry values: P3)

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 25WD, PCGS# 8323, Greysheet# 9051)

Weight: 8.36 grams

Metal: 90% Gold, 10% Copper


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 all of [The Bender Family Collection, Part I ]

View Certification Details from PCGS

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
August, 2022
22nd-28th Monday-Sunday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 13
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 374

Buyer's Premium per Lot:
20% of the successful bid per lot.

Sold on Aug 24, 2022 for: $43,200.00
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