Given the extreme rarity of the 1870-CC and the relative unavailability of the 1871-CC in AU grades and above, the 1872-CC is the first year of issue fro Carson City double eagles which is obtainable for the collector of average means. It is seen from time to time in EF and even in the lower AU grades but it is quite scarce in properly graded AU55, rare in Au58 and very rare in Uncirculated.

This choice, original example has natural medium green-gold hues with some slightly darker hues on the relief details. Both sides are well detailed and there is a considerable amount of soft, satiny luster. Some slight scuffing in the fields is as expected for the date and grade but the degree of eye appeal is well above average for an issue which is almost never seen with a nice look.

The last AU55 to sell at auction was a PCGS coin sold as Stacks Bowers 2/12: 4350 which went cheaply at $13,800; in their 2011 ANA sale, the same firm sold another PCGS AU55 for $14,950. Interestingly, auction records of over $10,000 are seen for AU55′s of this date all the way back to 2004 so this is not a date that can be called a “Johnny Come Lately” like some of the other CC $20′s.

In PCGS AU58, this issue is worth around $25,000, so for many collectors a nice, original AU55 will represent a far better value.