1872-CC. NGC graded AU-55. This is an extremely high grade example of this coveted Carson City rarity, which is seldom found at all, and if found is usually in low grades. On this magnificent near mint state example the surfaces are bright with with a hint of gold tone. The strike is soft with "OF AME" weakly struck in legend, otherwise all is sharp and well defined. This seems to have been caused by something at the Mint like grease in the die as the nearby dentils are sharp, and the area opposite on the lower right reverse wreath is normally struck up. When the Carson City Mint began coinage in 1870, limited coinage was the norm for that year, but dimes were not produced at all. By 1871 the Carson City Mint did produce dimes in limited numbers, along with similar low mintage issues in 1872, 1873 and 1874. Each of these first four dates of dime production are considered rarities today. <BR><BR>Then in 1875, the mother load of silver must have arrived and instead of a mintage of 10,000 pieces, the Carson City Mint cranked out 4,465,000 dimes! Demand must have dramatically increased along with the available silver to coin these pieces. Anyway, this 1872-CC is one of the tough dates, which is seldom found in any grade at all, let alone this near mint state survivor! Dont miss out if you are a serious date and mint collector of Liberty Seated dimes. An untoned example. Only 35,480 struck. Pop 3; none finer at NGC. <DOTLEADER> Estimated Value $15,000 - UP
