1874-CC $20 Liberty Head Double Eagle PCGS AU53
IN STOCK
SKU
51666279
Here’s a piece that is rich with numismatic history, from the storied Carson City Mint. Please take a careful look at the photos provided. Then imagine owning it, having it in your collection! PCGS has graded 166 as AU53 with 313 finer. Collector’s Universe gives this issue a price of $7,000.00 in AU53.
According to David Akers, the 1874-CC is only relatively scarce as a date, and the collector who would like an example of this date should have little trouble tracking one down. He writes that “almost the entire population of 1874-CC twenties grades EF or less, and in AU condition the date is surprisingly scarce. In mint state, the 1874-CC is rare and in choice or gem Unc. the date is little short of unobtainable.”
He continues, “the 1874-CC is rare in Unc…. dates such as the 1877-CC, 1882-CC, 1883-CC, 1884-CC, 1889-CC, 1890-CC, 1892-CC and 1893-CC all have lower mintages than the 1874-CC (in some cases much lower mintages) and yet are nowhere near as rare as the 1874-CC in full mint state.”
The Carson City Mint, where this great collectible was produced in 1874. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.
The Double Eagles that emanated from the Carson City Mint served two basic functions: a circulating instrument of commerce and a storehouse of value. The big $20 gold coins were the easiest way to mint, transport and trade the great amount of gold that had recently been extracted from the earth of the Old West. During the numerous gold rushes in the West, and for many years afterwards, paper money was contemptuously derided.
That attitude made gold coins the accepted method of payment in the Old West. That is why so many Carson City double eagles are found in relatively low grades today in the 21st century. More than most other Liberty head $20 gold pieces, those from the Carson City Mint remain popular and have grown exponentially in value over the years. Among the reasons for this is the romance and history associated with the Old West, the Comstock Lode, and the Carson City Mint.
The 1874-CC is only moderately scarce as a date and the colllector who just wants an example of this date and is not particularly fussy about the grade should have little trouble locating one. However, almost the entire popualtion of 1874-CC twenties grades EF or less and in AU condition the date is surprisingly scarce. In mint state, the 1874-CC is rare and in choice or gem Unc. the date is little short of unobtainable. I have personally never seen a gem and can recall only a single specimen that I would grade "choice." In my view, this issue, because of its closeness in date and mintage to the common 1875-CC, is unappreciated and underrated.
This issue is one of the many cases in point where the mintage doesn't begin to tell the story. A comparison of the mintage of the 1874-CC and 1875-CC would lead one to believe that they are about equal in rarity. If there were any advantage of one over the other it would be on the side of the 1875-CC which has a slightly lower mintage. However, the reality of the situation is that the 1874-CC is rare in Unc. while the 1875-CC is common. Furthermore, dates such as the 1877-CC, 1882-CC, 1883-CC, 1884-CC, 1889-CC, 1890-CC, 1892-CC and 1893-CC all have lower mintages than the 1874-CC (in some cases much lower mintages0 and yet are nowhere near as rare as the 1874-CC in full mint state.
| PCGS # | 8971 |
|---|---|
| Grading Service | PCGS |
| Year of Issue | 1874 |
| Grade | AU53 |
| Denom Type | Liberty Head $20 |
| Numeric Denomination | $20 |
| Mint Location | Carson City |
| Designation | NONE |
| Circ/UnCirc | Circulated |
| Strike Type | Business |
| Grade Add On | NONE |
| Holder Type | N/A |
| Population | 166 |
| Pop Higher | 313 |
| Mintage | 115,085 |
| Designer | James Barton Longacre |
| Edge Type | Reeded |
| Coin Weight | 33.4 |
| Metal Content | 90% Gold, 10% Copper |
