1874-CC Liberty Head Half Eagle. Winter 1-B. EF-40 (PCGS). CAC. Glints of honey-gold mingle with dominant khaki-gold patina on both sides of this overall smooth, visually appealing example. With a total of 21,198 pieces struck, Carson City produced more half eagles in 1874 than at either Philadelphia (with only 3,488 coins) or at San Francisco (with 16,000 coins). Carson Citys output was almost exclusively used locally where the denomination served yeomans duty in daily commercial activity, rather than in international trade like many of the coins produced at Philadelphia and even San Francisco. Despite this, there is a very high attrition rate among Carson City half eagles, with at most around 1% remaining. The 1874-CC half eagle is the most accessible of the denomination from this decade with as many as 200 to 250 extant specimens. As with most issues from this storied Nevada facility, by far the vast majority of these coins are in the VF or EF grade levels, but rarely with the problem free and attractively original surfaces offered here. Worthy of a premium bid.
