1873-CC Liberty Head Double Eagle. AU-50 (NGC). Plenty of luster remains on both sides of this overall sharply defined, medium gold example. Production of gold at Carson City was uneven in terms of quantity and was essentially based on the availability of local bullion. Only some 22,410 double eagles made their way off the coin press at the famed Western facility, all of which entering local commercial channels where they served as the workhorse large denomination coin. Unlike most of their contemporaries from the other mints, only the barest minimum quantity of 1873-CC double eagles went overseas, which ultimately had the effect of drastically limiting the number of high grade survivors for later numismatists to enjoy. At most a dozen Mint State examples are known, making the 1873-CC $20 a major condition rarity. Of the remaining estimated 250 to 350 circulated specimens thought extant, the vast majority are at the lower end of grade scale, clustering primarily at the VF and EF levels. An appealing Almost Uncirculated specimen represents an important find for the budget-conscious collector with an eye for quality.
