The 1890-CC is among the more common Carson City double eagles in circulated grades. It becomes very scarce in MS62 and it is very rare above this as evidenced by the fact that PCGS has graded just six examples finer (all MS63).

This fresh example exhibits delightful natural rose and orange-gold color with deeper hues seen on the relief details. The choice surfaces are very frosty and clearly original with no signs of dipping or having been processed. There are a few mint-made thin spots on the obverse border at 1:00, 4:00 and 7:00 which do not detract from the excellent overall appearance.

The last MS62 example of this date to sell at auction was a PCGS/CAC MS62 which brought $17,250 as Heritage 8/11: 7664. More recently, an NGC MS63 sold for $41,125 in Heritage’s 2/13 auction and it was not approved by CAC.

If you have the patience to wait for a PCGS MS63 example, you’ll likely have to pay in the area of $45,000. Personally, I’d rather have this lovely PCGS MS62 and use the savings to buy another great CC double eagle!