TIED FOR FINEST KNOWN 1872-CC HALF DOLLAR

All Carson City silver coinage dated 1872-CC is very rare in Uncirculated, and while the 1872-CC is close to the 1870-CC and the 1871-CC half dollars in terms of total number extant in Uncirculated, it is curiously overlooked when discussing the true condition rarities from this facility.

There are but four Uncirculated 1872-CC half dollars graded by PCGS: single examples in MS61 and MS62 and a pair of MS63s. These MS63’s are very similar in overall quality but if I had to choose between the two, I would select this coin due to its amazing pedigree.

Fairly deep but appealing multi-hued colors are seen on the obverse and the reverse; this fails to mute the strong underlying luster. The strike is much sharper than normal for this issue with just a small bit of weakness at the inner right wing on the reverse. A few small old marks in the right obverse field are well-concealed by the toning and I would definitely call this coin “choice” both from a technical and a market perspective.

The other PCGS/CAC MS63 1872-CC half dollar, now owned by specialist collector Tom Bender, brought $54,625 as Lot 11083 in the Battle Born Collection. It is also deeply toned and is of similar overall quality.

If you need a nice 1872-CC half dollar for your collection, you can either buy this piece or wait another decade (or more) for another suitable piece to come available.

CAC has approved two in this grade with none higher.

From the Old West Collection and ex: Heritage 6/14: 30514 ($57,281), Gene Gardner, ANR 1/2005: 580 ($39,100), Heritage 8/1999: 6289 (unsold), Bowers and Merena 1/1999: 163 ($26,450), Douglas Noblet collection, Bowers and Merena 4/1997: 2019 ($27,500), Louis Eliasberg Sr. Collection, John Clapp Collection, Chapman Brothers 6/1906: 369, Major W.B. Wetmore Collection.

Old West Collection of Carson City Half Dollars

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