294
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$10 Gold
V
ERY
R
ARE
1871-CC $10 L
IBERTY
Enlargement
1899
1871-CC
.
PCGS graded AU-58
. Nice golden toning. Scarce "CC" mint. Only 8,085 minted. 1871-CC checks in as a significant rarity among
the $10 Liberty issues produced at the Carson City Mint. Relatively few were minted, and all seem to have been put into circulation. There was
no interest on the part of numismatists at the time.
The present piece is quite attractive, ranking as it does high in the NGC Census, with just one graded finer. The striking is good, much luster
is present, the rarity is unquestioned, and all elements are in place for this to create a stir when it crosses the block. There is a small mark on
the face angling down onto the neck. Elsewhere, only light field abrasions.
Pop 2; 1 finer in 62+
. (
PCGS # 8661
)
Gold ore yields on the Comstock Lode were on the rise in 1871, yet the Carson Mint was not receiving the benefit of it. Output from the mines
in the region was reported to be over $4 million that year, but only 25% of it was deposited at the local mint. From that amount, nearly
$470,000 was turned into gold coins, with Eagles accounting for 15% of that total. There is no way to ascertain where the 1871-CC Eagles
wound up after they left Nevada, or for that matter, how many actually left the state, but as with many “CC” issues, apparently few were
saved.
The rarity can partly be explained by exports. It was in 1871 that the United States began sending large quantities of gold coins to foreign
lands, over $55 million in gold coins in 1871 alone. Though Carson City’s gold coin output was consistently lower than Philadelphia’s and San
Francisco’s, significant quantities of CC’s left the country as evidenced by occasional small hoards returning from overseas or South America.
This date has a slightly higher survival ratio than many CC gold issues of the era, but because of the low original mintage, it still ranks in the
top 10 in overall rarity.
Estimated Value ........................................................................................................................................................... $25,000 - 30,000
R
ARE
1871-S $10 L
IBERTY
1900
1871-S
.
PCGS graded AU-55
. Mostly untoned. A scarce
date. Only 16,500 minted. With so few made, the 1871-S
eagle had an adequate coinage total for the day; however,
the coin’s survival was hit or miss, mostly miss. Extremely
Fine examples are available for a price, easy to obtain.
About Uncirculated examples are a different story. This
Choice AU 55 shows minor high point friction only, with
some scattered light to marks only, the golden surfaces
remain lustrous in areas. Well struck for the collector of S-
mint Liberty tens.
Pop 4; 2 finer, 1 in 55+, 1 in 58
.
(
PCGS # 8662
)
Estimated Value ........................................ $8,000 - 9,000
1901
1874-S
.
PCGS graded AU-50
. A hint of light gold tone. Only
10,000 minted. A low-mintage issue which has a comparatively
good survival rate in worn grades (mainly Very Fine to
Extremely Fine). AU50 coins, however, are considerably rarer.
Traces of luster remain in the areas around the devices; sur-
faces reveal an light distribution of harmless marks, while a
good strike vitalizes the design features.
Pop 10; 11 finer, 6
in 53, 3 in 55, 2 in 58
. (
PCGS # 8671
)
Estimated Value ..............................................$3,800 - 4,000
