A remarkably handsome example of the popular 1871-CC Liberty Half Eagle will be featured among many other notable highlights in our upcoming weekly iAuction 3462 ending on Sunday, January 5, at 7 PM (PT). Certified AU-53 by NGC, this uniformly bold piece exhibits warm khaki patination accented by the slightest hint of rose-gold hues. Traces of satiny luster grace the wholesomely undisturbed surfaces, rendering it decidedly choice for the assigned grade.
Though a product of a modest mintage of 20,770 pieces, Rusty Goe estimates that only 160 to 185 1871-CC Half Eagles survive. Both David Akers and Doug Winter note the scarcity of this issue in problem-free grades above Extremely Fine in their respective authoritative references, emphasizing the true desirability of this offered piece.
The top grading services corroborate this notion of elusiveness with only six examples grading AU-53 at NGC, leaving just 17 finer and only two of those in Mint State. The figures offered from PCGS are similar, with only three certified AU-53, 15 grading higher, and again only two coins worthy of a Mint State grade. With such low extant populations, this coin would be equally as treasured to a Carson City enthusiast as to an advocate of quality, attractive rarities.
This lovely Half Eagle can be found in lot #20899 of our upcoming iAuction 3462 along with highlights that include an 1877 Twenty-Cent Piece certified Proof-67 by NGC, and a 1923-S Peace Silver Dollar graded MS-65 by PCGS, among many other wonderful pieces.
