One thing that third-party grading has taught branch mint gold collectors is that any Carson City double eagle is very scarce in properly graded MS62 and it has further reinforced my old belief that issues such as the 1882-CC are very rare in this grade. After twenty-five+ years of grading, PCGS has a total of 21 in this grade (and this number is inflated by resubmissions) with only two finer.

This is a beautiful, original example with very clean surfaces and natural medium green-gold color which is contrasted by a blush of rose at the central obverse. There are a few scuffs at the left obverse field which limit the grade while the rest of the coin is clean and vibrant.

The last PCGS MS62 example of this date to sell at auction was Heritage 1/12: 5065 which brought $26,450. The Battle Born coin, graded MS63 by PCGS, sold for a record-smashing $80,500 to a knowledgeable wholesale dealer.

Important Carson City double eagles like are currently in very high demand yet the supply is at an all-time low. With MS63′s of this date being essentially unobtainable, this is basically the best there is for the date and it is an important coin for this reason.