Offered is a lightly and attractively toned 1877-CC trade dollar with pearl gray patina on both sides. The obverse is a bit more boldly toned than the reverse with intermingled sandy-gold tinting also very much in evidence. Fully struck with billowy mint luster, both the quality and eye appeal of this coin propel it to the upper reaches of the assigned grade level.Although produced to a slightly greater extent than the 1876-CC (534,000 vs. 509,000 coins), the 1877-CC is a bit more elusive in todays market. In fact, the 1877-CC is one of the leading trade dollar rarities in the finer Mint State grades, as represented here. The elusiveness of this issue can best be explained by the fact that the mintage was intended for export to the Orient, which is undoubtedly where most of the coins were shipped. This should come as no surprise to students of this series for, after all, use in the China trade was the raison detre for the trade dollar. Regarding this issue and its intended use, the June 29, 1877 issue of Virginia City, Nevadas <em>Territorial Enterprise</em>, reported:<em>"The work of coining trade dollars will be briskly resumed at the Carson City Mint July 1. The trades are not for circulation here. They will be shipped to San Francisco, thence to China."</em>With the Carson City Mint destroying some 44,148 trade dollars on July 19, 1878, it is possible that a small quantity of undistributed 1877-CC coins went to the melting pot alongside their 1878-CC counterparts -- further contributing to the scarcity of the former issue. Attractive and very well preserved, this 1877-CC trade dollar would do nicely in any advanced collection.,,PCGS# 7045. NGC ID: 253D.,PCGS Population: 33; 15 finer (MS-66 finest).,
