Liberty Head Eagle
1878-CC Liberty Head Eagle. EF-40 (NGC).
The sandy-gold shades of this superior example are accented by warm honey patina in the protected areas. The strike is even and bold, with complete denticles on each side. Only the most trivial marks are visible under a glass and the eye appeal remains delightful. While the Carson City Mint had done well to stockpile subsidiary silver coinage as mandated by the 1875 Specie Payment Resumption Act, gold eagle production remained low. Little of the gold bullion mined in the nearby Comstock Lode was deposited for coinage and, in any event, the newly introduced Morgan silver dollar was the focus for the coiners in Carson City. Only 3,244 1878-CC eagles were struck, and it remains one of the most challenging issues of the entire Liberty Head $10 series. Q. David Bowers estimates 60 to 90 coins remain extant, which squares quite nicely with the 60 to 75 pieces put forth by PCGS CoinFacts. Rusty Goe (2012) takes a more liberal approach allowing for 90 to 115 survivors. The best the market can usually muster for an 1878-CC eagle is a VF with surface problems, making the offered EF very desirable for advanced collectors.
PCGS# 8681. NGC ID: 265K.
Estimate: $9000