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1877 1C MS66 Red PCGS. This is the lowest mintage date of the series with only 852,500 pieces report

Currency:USD Category:Everything Else / Other Start Price:NA Estimated At:25,200.00 - 33,600.00 USD
1877 1C MS66 Red PCGS. This is the lowest mintage date of the series with only 852,500 pieces report
1877 1C MS66 Red PCGS. This is the lowest mintage date of the series with only 852,500 pieces reportedly produced. All non-proof 1877 Indian Cents were struck from a single reverse die with a shallow N in ONE. This hub variety was retired in 1870 and not used since 1872. Most of the coins from this die, the present example included, display light clashmarks (as struck) above and to the left of the O in ONE. This reverse die is unknown with any die cracks, a curious feature for an era when the average working die life was usually no more than 200,000 pieces. Richard Snow poses an interesting question: How could nearly a million Cents be struck from the same die without the development of any significant die wear or cracks? As a possible answer he postulates that the real mintage of the 1877 Indian Cent may be even less than what has been traditionally reported. This is an absolutely outstanding Gem quality example with full, vibrant luster in cherry-red shades. Only the slightest weakness on the second and third feathers in Liberty's headdress seem to hold it back from perfection. Presently, there are only six 1877 Cents graded Mint State 66 Red by PCGS with none finer (10/02). In Snow's opinion, the Gorrell specimen probably ranks as the finest known after the example in the Stewart Blay Collection. The latter coin was recently exhibited as part of the PCGS "Showdown" of the top three Registry Sets. The low mintage for the Cent (as well as the complete stoppage of production for the Three Cent and Five Cent Nickels) in 1877 is due, at least in part, to a slowdown in the nation's economy. By forcing large quantities of older coins back into circulation, this slowdown eased demand for new coins. However, this explanation oversimplifies the cause and effect. To get to the real reason for the rarity of the 1877 Indian Cent, we must go back to the Mint Act of 1864. That act limited the legal tender status of the new bronze Cent to ten cents. Since banks had no way to move larger quantities of Cents at full face value, coins of this denomination began to accumulate in their vaults. The action needed to alleviate this problem came in the form of the Mint Act of March 3, 1871. Congress now required the Mint to redeem older minor coins from banks in large quantities. At first the coins, which, in addition to bronze Cents included older copper Cents, Half Cents, copper-nickel Cents, bronze Two Cent Pieces, Three Cent Nickels, and nickel Five Cent pieces, were melted and recoined into new nickel Three and Five Cent coins and bronze Cents. By 1874, as less and less of the pre-1864 coinage was being redeemed, it became obvious that the remaining bronze Cents, Three Cent Nickels, and Five Cent Nickels could simply be taken in and paid out alongside newly minted coins. By adopting this policy, the Mint essentially operated as a clearinghouse for the backlog of minor coins. Since the coins were already on the books from their original mintage, they were accounted for separately from the mintage of new coinage. With the redemption practice peaking in 1877, production of new Indian Cents was cut off early in the year after only a limited number of coins had been delivered. The Mint did, however, issue more than 10 million Cents that year, but less than 1 million pieces were newly minted, and some of those may not have been dated 1877.From the Joseph P. Gorrell Collection. Important notice: We expect to be auctioning lots at the rate of 200-250 per hour. Sometimes eBay Premier live bid software cannot keep up with that pace, so we strongly recommend that you place a realistic proxy bid now as insurance to avoid disappointment. Also please note that all Heritage/CAA lots purchased through eBay Premier carry a 20% Buyer's Premium. Please make sure you read the Terms and Conditions.