1881-CC $5 Liberty Head Half Eagle PCGS AU55 Ex.The Fairmont Collection

David Akers writes, “The 1881-CC is a very rare coin in any condition …. It is by far the rarest Carson City Half Eagle after 1878 and, in fact, it is fully in the same rarity class as the dates from 1871 to 1877.” While the Philadelphia and New Orleans Mints produced millions of $5 gold pieces in 1881, the Carson City Mint managed to strike only 13,886 pieces—barely enough to supply the local economy. When we combine the low mintage with very few mint state survivors, the 1881-CC half eagle stands out as being quite scarce in each and every grade.

Writes Doug Winter, “The 1881-CC is far and away the scarcest post-1870’s half eagle from the Carson City mint and this underappreciated date is comparable in overall rarity to such higher-priced issues as the 1875-CC, 1876-CC and 1877-CC half eagles.” PCGS has graded 16 examples as AU55 with 20 finer. Collectors Universe gives this rarity a price of $17,500.00 in AU55. From the Fairmont Collection.

The Carson City Mint, where this great rarity was struck in 1881. Photo: wikipedia.