Bass Collection pedigree.

The 1891-CC has the second lowest mintage figure (5,000) of any double eagle from this mint. It is a scarce coin in terms of overall rarity and it becomes rare in properly graded AU55 to AU58. In Uncirculated there are probably not more than 15 or so known and these tend to be offered for sale very infrequently by CC double eagle standards.

This lustrous gem slider has no real wear and is kept from an MS61 or higher grade solely by the presence of some “bag friction” on the high spots of the obverse. The color is a pleasing medium yellow-gold and the surfaces show just a few minor marks scattered here and there in the fields. The eye appeal is excellent for the date.

No PCGS AU58 1891-CC double eagle has been auctioned since August 2009. A non-CAC NGC AU58 brought $36,719 as Heritage 3/14: 30486. A CAC approved NGC AU58, which was nowhere near as nice as this coin, realized $32,900 as Heritage 1/14: 5562.

If available, a CAC approved PCGS MS61 would sell for over $50,000 and it would probably not be appreciably nicer than this choice slider. Here is a coin which combines rarity, provenance and high demand in one neat package.

Ex Bass III sale (Bowers and Merena 5/00), where it sold for $10,350.

CAC has approved five in this grade with three finer.