GEM SLIDER 1879-CC $5, PCGS/CAC AU58, ex Fairmont

With an estimated 250-300 known in all grades, the 1879-CC is by far the most available of the Carson City half eagles made prior to 1880. Nice AU58 coins, however, are scarce and Uncirculated pieces remain very rare with no more than a half dozen known. The sole finest known is a PCGS/CAC MS62 Bender/Battle Born coin that DWN recently sold; we took this coin and a mound of cash in trade.

This is the second best 1879-CC from the Fairmont hoard, trailing only a sole PCGS/CAC MS61 that brought $45,600 as Stack’s Bowers 4/2022: 5148. It has wonderfully smooth surfaces which are overlaid with 100% unmolested honey and orange-old hues on both sides. There is absolutely no wear visible and the amount of bag friction seen on the high spots on the obverse is infinitesimal.

Stack’s Bowers 4/2024: 6057 brought $20,400, and it was the only other 1879-CC half eagle in PCGS/CAC AU58—besides his exact coin (see below)—to sell at auction.

At around half the price of a PCGS/CAC MS61, this Gem slider 1879-CC $5 seems like good overall value.

Ex Stack’s Bowers 4/2022: 3129, where it sold for $24,000; Fairmont hoard.

CAC has approved eight in AU58 with five finer.

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