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 honey-olive surfaces reveal a tinge of pale pinkish-apricot overall. Abundant frosty luster remains, the strike uncommonly sharp throughout with no areas of mentionable softness.<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. It is one of the two finest certified 1873-CC half eagles to have received approval from CAC, the other the identically graded Fairmont Collection-Hendricks Set specimen that realized $66,000 in our Spring 2022 Auction. Sure to draw considerable interest and realize an equally strong price. PCGS# 8331. NGC ID: 25WL. PCGS Population: 6; 2 finer, both Mint State (MS-62 finest).<p>CAC Population: 2; 0. From the Fairmont Collection - JBR Set.
