1873-CC Liberty Head Half Eagle. Winter 2-B. AU-55 (PCGS). CAC. From one of the most popular, and certainly most romanticized mints in U.S. coinage history comes this exceptional 1873-CC half eagle. A fully original coin, generally olive-orange surfaces reveal a few tinges of pale russet in the date area. Abundant frosty luster remains, and the strike typically soft at the central high points, yet sharp to full elsewhere.<p>The Nevada coinage facility delivered only 7,416 half eagles in 1873, the coins seeing immediate and extensive use in local commerce. Such was the fate of most Carson City Mint gold issues, many of which eventually went to the melting pot after years of circulation. Among the early date half eagles, fortunate is the coin that was retrieved from commercial channels in later years, although for the 1873-CC few coins were so lucky. In his cataloging for our August 2012 sale of the fabulous Battle Born Collection, Carson City Mint expert Rusty Goe estimated that just 85 to 95 coins are extant in all grades, a range that he tightened up a bit to 75 to 85 coins in his excellent reference <em>The Confident Carson City Coin Collector</em> (2020). Q. David Bowers takes a more conservative view and allows for just 45 to 65 survivors. The present example is a particularly significant representative, offering absolute as well as condition rarity. Sure to draw considerable interest. From the Fairmont Collection-Hendricks Set.