1882-CC $5 MS63 NGC....

Description

Single Finest Certified 1882-CC Half Eagle

1882-CC $5 MS63 NGC. The mintage figure for the 1882-CC half eagle amounts to 82,817 coins, a plentiful amount by the standards of the era and the Carson City Mint. For comparison purposes, the previous and subsequent CC-mint half eagle emissions were 13,886 and 12,598 pieces, respectively--each less than one-sixth as much as the 1882 figure.
Why was such a relatively large number of half eagles produced at Carson City during the year? In the first place, 1881 saw the Carson City Mint presses shut down for most of the year, so that the following year looks overlarge in comparison, and in the second place there were modest increases in gold yields from the nearby Comstock Lode that translated into increased gold coinage. Rusty Goe's The Mint on Carson Street notes that most of the 1882-CC half eagles found their way outside of Nevada, and those remaining nearby circulated extensively, leading to a large supply today in Fine to AU. Goe says "Uncirculated specimens, though existing in lower quantities, are more available than any pre-1890-CC date."
Although found fairly often in circulated condition, most 1882-CC half eagles average only AU or so, and the population drops precipitously in Mint State. While there are about three dozen Mint State 1882-CC half eagles at both services combined, as of (8/07) this is the only MS63 example of the date certified at either NGC or PCGS, and there are none finer. Jeff Garrett and Ron Guth note that many of the high-grade examples of this date are quite bagmarked, and that appealing examples are rare.
The present example is thus a pleasant surprise on many counts, as it offers extremely pleasing appeal and surfaces that are quite pristine for the grade and mint. The straw-gold surfaces show few distracting contact marks, either large or small, and the bold strike is an added bonus. Radiant luster cascades from each side, and a couple of tiny dark toning spots fail to dampen the appeal.
(Registry values: P3)

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 25XH, PCGS# 8359, GSID# 9075)

Metal: 90% Gold, 10% Copper
Weight: 8.36 grams
AGW: 0.24188oz
Mintage: 82,817

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.

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