RARE PCGS/CAC AU55 1875-CC HALF EAGLE

Variety 1-B.

The 1875-CC is among the more obtainable of the 1870's Carson City half eagles with as many as 125-150 known in total. This date becomes rare in properly graded AU55 and I am aware of just two in Uncirculated, the finest of which was a PCGS MS63 which sold for $103,500 in 2007.

This lightly worn example is uncommonly lustrous for the issue and it would almost certainly grade AU58 were it not for a contact mark on Liberty's face. The balance between the obverse and the reverse is excellent and this is not often seen as most 1875-CC half eagles are much weaker on the obverse than on the reverse.

The last two auction records for this date in PCGS AU55 date back to 2007 and for this exact coin; see below for more information.

Only two finer 1875-CC half eagles have been graded by PCGS and both are off the market in tightly-held collections. An important coin for the advanced specialist.

CAC has approved 4 in this grade with 1 finer.

Ex Heritage 7/07: 2544 where it sold for $16,100 and earlier ex Heritage 1/07: 3560 where it brought $17,250.