1871-CC 50C Liberty Seated Half Dollar PCGS XF45

Helpful PCGS XF45 Price Information:

Collector's Universe: $5,500.

Coin Dealer Newsletter: $4,000.

One of the most popular dates in the entire Liberty Seated series, the 1871-CC Half Dollar is scarce to rare.  

This piece would be right at home in the collection of a Carson City Mint aficionado. The mintage is a small 153,950 coins. Ron Guth writes, “It is a real challenge to find this date in any grade at all. In Mint State, the 1871-CC Half Dollar is a fantastic condition rarity and the few that exist are at the lower end of the scale.”

The 1871-CC is rated R.5 overall by Seated half specialists Wiley and Bugert in XF-AU grades.

There are a few reasons why it is difficult to find examples of this issue. There were very few collectors in the Carson City area during the 1870s. Plus, the issue went into circulation in the Old West. People in the Old West used “hard money” in their daily business transactions. Paper money was rejected. Also, Liberty Seated half dollars were an important element of the U.S.-China trade until the advent of the Trade dollar in 1873.

PCGS has graded 21 as XF45 with 23 finer. Collectors Universe prices this issue at $5,500.00 in XF45.

Please see below for past auction records of this issue.

The Carson City Mint, where this piece was struck in 1871. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Relevant auction records: 

• 02/2022 HA @ $4,080. (#03790188 - the present coin)
• 08/2019 HA @ $2,760. (#25592414)
• 05/2015 SB @ $2,643. (#27883760)
• 04/2015 SB @ Not Sold (#27883760)
• 01/2015 HA @ $3,055. (#03790188 - the present coin)
• 11/2014 HA @ $2,585. (#30631982)
• 08/2013 SB @ passed (#03790188 - $3,400 reserve not met)
• 07/2013 HA @ $3,525. (#12843056)