1874-CC Liberty Head Double Eagle. MS-61 (PCGS). CAC.A truly remarkable survivor of this conditionally challenging issue, both sides retain full mint luster in an intense frosty texture. Striking detail is sharp throughout, the surfaces minimally abraded for the assigned grade with beautiful rose-apricot highlights on dominant honey-gold color. The Carson City Mint delivered 115,085 double eagles in 1874, up considerably from the 22,410 coins struck in 1873. The coins went directly into commerce locally, with few if any being shipped overseas at the time. Carson City Mint double eagles were not sent to foreign destinations in quantity before 1879, and only intermittently after that time. As a result, repatriated Carson City Mint gold coins typically are circulated, having received wear in the United States prior to being shipped overseas.<p>The fact that most 1874-CC double eagles circulated locally explains the extreme rarity of this issue in Mint State. There was no known numismatic interest on the frontier at the time, and very few coins were preserved in Mint State as part of foreign bank hoards. Rusty Goe (2020) believes that as few as 20 to 30 examples of this issue can be called truly Mint State today, mainly repatriated coins. Here is a significant bidding opportunity for double eagle collectors and Carson City Mint specialists.<p>The 1874-CC was recognized as a rarity at an early time. On two occasions in 1929, Thomas L. Elder, the main buyer of double eagles and other gold coins from bank tellers, offered two of them at auction, both in only Fine grade, one called very rare and the other called rare. Elder was aware of the aspects of scarcity and rarity before most other dealers.PCGS# 8971. NGC ID: 26AP.PCGS Population: 18; 3 finer (all MS-62).<p>CAC Population: 7 in all Mint State grades.From the Fairmont Collection - CAG Set.
