The 1872-CC double eagle is scarce in properly graded AU53 to AU55 and very few of the examples in these holders are what I could regard as choice for the grade. This is borne out by the low percentage of coins which have received approval at CAC.

I bought this piece in an old green label AU53 holder and cracked it out thinking it had a very good chance to grade AU55. As you can see, it didn’t upgrade but I think the coin looks awfully choice to be in a 53 holder. It has nice light rose and orange-gold color over very frosty surfaces which show no severe marks. The reverse is very choice and grades close to AU58 on its own.

No PCGS AU53 examples have sold at auction since April 2012 when one sold for $12,650. The most recent APR for an NGC AU53 is Heritage 8/14: 5716 which brought $15,275.

This date has a big price jump from AU53 to AU55 and I think the present example is good value as it is cosmetically superior to most which are in AU55 holders.

CAC has approved four in this grade with 13 finer.