This is a gorgeous Mint State Carson City double eagle with a sharpness of strike that far exceeds what is typically offered both within the CC-mint and Type II double eagle series. Liberty s portrait and the obverse star centers are boldly rendered, and the eagle s plumage is crisply delineated. The lustrous medium gold surfaces are far smoother than usual for the assigned grade level. Mint State Type II double eagles of all dates and mints are scarce from a market availability standpoint, with the Carson City Mint issues particularly desirable due to the rich history and consequent popularity of this coinage facility. At 111,151 pieces produced, the 1875-CC has one of the highest mintages in the Carson City Mint double eagle series. The increased mintages in 1874, 1875 and 1876 suggest that the facility was able to attract a greater percentage of Comstock Lode bullion, even if only temporarily. The departure of Superintendent H.F. Rice in June 1873, who resigned amidst a storm of controversy, may have helped in this matter. In June 1875 the Carson City Mint received its largest bullion deposit ever from one of the primary Comstock Lode mining companies. As Rusty Goe reports in our August 2012 catalog for The Battle Born Collection of Carson City Mint Coinage: "In June 1875, the Con. Virginia Mining Company deposited $1.5 million worth of bullion at the Carson Mint, the single largest transaction in that coin factory s history. Even though the Carson Mint s share of the Con. Virginia s bounty of bullion would amount to only a fraction of the whole, the mere fact that the Comstock giant had deposited it locally brought the institution some respectability."The larger output of the mid-1870s also seems to have allowed Carson City to play a role in the nation s export trade. Q. David Bowers writes in our Battle Born Collection catalog:"Regarding Mint State [examples of the 1875-CC], nearly all came back to the United States from overseas hoards examined since the 1950s. Prior to that, the population in collectors was woefully small." Indeed, the 1875-CC is one of the most readily obtainable CC-mint double eagles in all grades, circulated and Mint State. At the latter level of preservation, however, and in keeping with the expectations for a Carson City Mint gold issue, the 1875-CC is rare in an absolute sense with demand easily outstripping supply. This handsome piece, which evokes thoughts of a higher grade, would make an impressive addition to any cabinet.， Est. $10,000-$20,000
