1884-CC $10.00 PCGS AU55

While this date is only the second scarcest CC eagle from the 1880's, I see nice AU examples less often than I do the 1882-CC. Only 9,925 1884-CC eagles were struck and it is quite elusive in the higher AU grades. This example is very lustrous with yellow-gold color seen on both sides. There are some small surface abrasions, consistent with the grade, in the fields. The "scratches" on the neck of Liberty are, in fact, mint-made and they are seen on all known 1884-CC eagles. The last APR for a PCGS 55 is Heritage 1/11: 7111, which sold for $4,600. Carson City eagles are currently undergoing some strong demand and it has become hard to find interesting, PCGS-graded pieces for less than $7,500.

1884-CC $20.00 NGC AU55 CAC

In years and years of specializing in Carson City double eagles, I can't recall a time that these coins have been more popular than they are now and I forecast continued growth in this market due to a greater demand than supply. The sort of coin that people are really clamoring for now are common and slightly better dates in EF and AU with great eye appeal; exactly like this example. There is minor wear seen on both sides, no detracting marks and attractive natural light golden-orange color. In short, this is exactly the sort of CC $20 you should be buying if you are just getting interested in this historic, highly collectable series.

CAC has approved seventeen in this grade with another twenty-five finer than this.

1839-D $5.00 PCGS AU58

Variety 1. Mintmark directly over the top of the 3 in the date. This is the rarer of the two known varieties. Along with the 1838-D, the 1839-D is an important issue amongst Dahlonega half eagles as it is a one year type coin. The 1839-D is actually rarer than the 1838-D both in terms of overall and grade rarity. There are an estimated 200-225 known with as many as four dozen grading AU by today's standards. However, the great majority are in the AU50 to AU53 range and choice pieces are very rare. Only four to six are known in Uncirculated and the PCGS population of just three coins in AU58 should give a clear indication as to this coin's rarity in this grade. The present example is a highly lustrous slider with virtually no rub seen on the obverse and excellent overall detail for the issue. Both sides show some medium yellow-gold color and there are only a few light, scattered abrasions visible in the fields. The last APR for a PCGS AU58 1839-D half eagle was in May 2007 when Heritage sold a piece for $16,100; prior to this you have to go all the way back to October 1999 when the Bass II coin was sold for a reasonable $11,500.

1884-CC $20.00 NGC MS60

Not like I had anything to do with it (ahem...) but I've noted that CC double eagles have become more and more popular in the last few years, especially in the $5,000-10,000 range. It wasn't that long ago that I could find a decent number of these at shows but those days seem long gone and now I'm lucky to find one or two nice, fresh coins like this 1884-CC at a major convention. This choice, frosty example has lovely rich orange-gold color with contrasting darker highlights on both sides. For the grade, the surfaces are extremely clean and I've seen many pieces with "busier" surfaces in MS60 holders. The 1884-CC is among the more available double eagles from this mint and it tends to be well-produced, making it perfect for use as a type coin.

1884-CC $20.00 NGC AU55

This is among the more available dates from this mint but it is hard to locate clean, original pieces with nice surfaces and good eye appeal. This example has never been dipped or processed and it shows attractive rich green-gold color on the obverse and reverse. A small mark on the bridge of the nose is probably all that keeps this coin from grading AU58. Very pleasing and a great introductory CC double eagle for the new collector.

1884-CC $5.00 PCGS AU50

There are just five half eagles from this decade made at the Carson City mint. The 1880-CC and 1882-CC are common while the 1883-CC and 1884-CC are moderately scarce and the 1881-CC is very scarce to rare. The 1884-CC is a real rarity in Uncirculated and for most collectors a nice AU is about as choice as they can wish for. Many 1884-CC half eagles graded AU50 to AU55 are bright and unoriginal and this is one of the few "ultra-dirty" examples that I have seen. It was recently found in Europe and graded by PCGS at their Paris office. The surfaces show deep green-gold color that is accentuated by underlying rose and orange-gold hues. There have been no auction records for this date in PCGS AU50 since September 2008 and only five total since 2000. A special coin for the sophisticated Carson City collector.