1874-CC $10 Liberty Head Eagle NGC AU55

This is a very rare coin. The production of eagles at the Carson City Mint rose to 16,767 for 1874. For the decade, that is a respectable total, as the 1874-CC is the most abundant CC Eagle from the 1870s. However, this issue is elusive above the XF45 grade. NGC has graded only 22 as AU55 with a mere four finer (3 in AU58 and a sole piece in MS65). Collectors Universe give this issue a price of $40,000.00 in AU55.

The Carson City Mint, where this rare piece was struck. Photo: wikipedia.

Reports Rusty Goe, specialist in issues from the Carson City Mint, “In January 1874, San Francisco's Daily Alta California said the Carson City Mint had ‘little or nothing to do.’ This may have been the case at the beginning of the year, but they would display rigorous execution of their craft before it ended. Monthly production of coins and bars (unparted gold and silver, and fine silver) saw incremental increases, jumping from a quarter of a million dollars in January 1874 to double that amount in February, with subsequent advances through the year.”

Continuing, Goe writes, “For some reason, a stepped-up demand for $10 gold pieces caused the Carson Mint's coining department to deliver nearly as many examples in 1874 as it had in the three previous years combined with 7,725 in the first half of the year, and 9,042 in the second half.”