1872-CC $1 Liberty Seated Dollar PCGS XF45

Some of the greatest rarities in American numismatics were struck at the historic Carson City Mint in Nevada. Among those rarities is the 1872-CC Seated Liberty dollar, the example currently being offered by AUCM. What contributes to this issue’s rarity is that Seated Liberty dollars were sent to China in trade. Why? Because they always had an intrinsic value of more than a dollar, which made them de facto bullion.

PCGS has graded 21 as XF45 with 70 finer. Collectors Universe prices this issue at $14,000.00 in XF45.

With a mintage of only 3,150 pieces, this is a very rare issue. David Bowers writes, “Today, the number surviving is in the range of perhaps 150 to 200, including lower grades in the Good, VG, and Fine ranges. Opinions on the number of survivors vary …” Bowers writes, “I believe that most 1872-CC dollars circulated after 1873, when their intrinsic value dropped below their face value.”

That appears to be a questionable theory about the hard money West and when considering the use of Seated Liberty dollars in the China trade. R.W. Julian writes, “…dollars were struck only for private depositors.” That suggests that they were struck for use in the local Carson City/Western economy, as well as, due to their intrinsic value of over a dollar, for export to China.

Illustration of Carson City in 1877. Image: Wikimedia Commons.