RARE AND IMPORTANT PCGS/CAC MS62 1878-CC TRADE DOLLAR

The 1878-CC is the final Trade Dollar from the Carson City mint and it is also the scarcest. It is an important transitional issue (Morgan Dollars dated 1878-CC were made as well) and its mintage of 97,000 doesn’t indicate that almost half were melted in July 1878 by order of the Secretary of the Treasury. Around three to four dozen exist in Uncirculated with most in the MS60 to MS62, and with very few of those coins nice enough to qualify for CAC approval.

This is a very high-end coin for the grade and one which faces up as at least a point finer. It is untoned and very frosty with extremely clean surfaces. In fact, other than a small reeding mark near the final star in the right obverse field and another mark well-hidden near the left wing on the reverse, there is a near-absence of the detracting marks which are seen on most 1878-CC Trade Dollars,

There have been just two PCGS MS62 examples of this date ever sold at auction and this exact coin (see below for more information) is the only one with a CAC sticker. The only PCGS MS63 with CAC approval brought $36,425 as Legend 5/2017: 333.

It is my belief that the PCGS population for this coin in MS62 and MS63 is inflated by resubmissions, and I base this on the fact that just five coins graded MS62 or MS63 (two in 62 and three in MS63) have sold since 2006.

This is an outstanding coin with great overall eye appeal and it would be hard to find a better piece without spending $40,000+.

CAC has approved two in this grade with nine finer.

From the Old West Collection and earlier sold as Lot 4358 in the Heritage 4/2013 auction where it brought $25,850.

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