The 1874-CC is the most available Carson City half eagle from this decade except for the 1879-CC. It is seen most often in the VF-EF grade range but properly graded EF45 coins with original color and choice surfaces have become very difficult to locate.

This fresh to the market 1874-CC half eagle is one of the choice examples for this grade that I have owned. It has never been cleaned or dipped and it displays very nice medium russet color with some rose and orange-gold flashes towards the edges. It is well struck and evenly worn with choice surfaces and great overall eye appeal. Many dealers would have processed this coin to get it into an AU50 holder but I chose to keep it original because I respect this coin’s natural appearance.

Not a single PCGS EF45 example of this issue has sold at auction since October 2006. The last NGC EF45, ex Heritage 2/10: 1601, sold for $4,600 and it was not CAC approved.

A rare coin with this degree of eye appeal and a truly nice 1874-CC half eagle.

CAC has approved just this one coin in EF45 with 10 finer.