5510

1871-CC 25C AU55 PCGS. The 1871-CC is the second

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:1.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1871-CC 25C AU55 PCGS. The 1871-CC is the second
<B>1871-CC<25C> AU55 PCGS.</B></I> The 1871-CC is the second scarcest Carson City quarter, and it has an impressively low mintage of only 10,890 pieces. This is an issue that is both an absolute as well as a condition rarity, both attributes being fully realized in this particular coin. Larry Briggs called the '71-CC a High R.6 in XF/AU grades. Only 2-3 pieces are known in AU and an equal number are extant today in mint condition. Carson City silver from the early 1870s is invariably found with extensive signs of circulation. The 1871-CC quarter is no exception with the average piece in Good-Very Good condition. CC silver coins from this era are also frequently seen with rougher surfaces than their Philadelphia or San Francisco counterparts. This is because the Carson City mint used a shortcut to produce these pieces: they struck the coins from unalloyed Comstock silver. Comstock silver had a very high silver content and in its natural state was very close to coin silver. However, close was not close enough as the coins often show granular surfaces from the impurities that remained in the unalloyed silver. This particular coin seems to be curiously lacking that granularity, with only the slightest bit evident over the highpoints (with strong magnification), indicating that either: 1) this piece was actually struck from coin silver; or 2) the unalloyed state of this batch of silver was so close to the 90/10 ratio legally required that virtually no other elements were present to pollute the struck coin. As with most of the high grade examples known of this issue, the devices are sharply defined throughout. A number of tiny abrasions are scattered over each side, but these small marks are entirely consistent with a coin that was briefly handled in the channels of commerce. Light, even gray-golden toning covers each side with occasional deeper accents seen around the obverse periphery. An important coin for the Carson City specialist and an opportunity that is not likely to be repeated again in the near-future.