1872-CC 50C Liberty Seated Half Dollar PCGS XF40

Helpful PCGS XF40 Price Information:

Collector's Universe: $2,750.

Coin Dealer Newsletter: $2,000.

Here’s an attractive example of a more affordable issue in the desirable Carson City sub-set of Liberty Seated half dollars.

NGC Coin Explorer writes, “For those seeking a Carson City half dollar from that mint's early period (1870-74), 1872-CC is the clear go-to coin. It has the highest mintage of these issues and is much more often seen, at least in the lower circulated grades. Even so, coins grading XF and higher are rare, with Mint State survivors being extremely so.”

With a mintage of 257,000, one would think that this issue would be less of a rarity. However, a number of coins went directly into the Carson City/Old West economy in 1872. However, out of the substantial mintage only 531 original specimens have been graded by PCGS and NGC.

This suggests that merchants in the China trade used a significant amount of this issue to purchase tea, silk, porcelain, nankeen, and other goods. Carson City was just a train ride away from San Francisco with its ships in the harbor that set sail for the Orient on a regular basis.

PCGS has graded 32 as XF40 with 57 finer. Collectors Universe prices this issue at $2,750.00 in XF40.

The Carson City Mint, where this rare piece was produced in 1872. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.