1891-CC $20 Liberty Head Double Eagle PCGS XF45 (CAC)

Doug Winter writes, "Unlike the Carson City half eagles and eagles of this date, the 1891-CC double eagle is a rare, low mintage issue. In fact, its original production of just 5,000 pieces is the second lowest for any Carson City double eagle, trailing only the 1870-CC." The 1870-CC, with its mintage of 3,789 and survival of perhaps 50 pieces, is a great rarity and is considered a "trophy coin" by Carson City enthusiasts.

PCGS has graded 35 in XF45, with 141 finer. In CAC, there are 7 in XF45, with 33 finer. Winter continues, "I have always regarded the 1891-CC as the sleeper issue in the Carson City Mint double eagle set and by virtue of its low mintage, the 1891-CC seems safely ensconced as the second rarest of the Big Five in terms of its overall rarity. This date didn’t see as much circulation as the other four ..."

The Carson City Mint, now the Nevada State Museum, where this great rarity was struck in 1891.