Toward the end of its first span of minting, the Carson City Mint was striking significantly fewer denominations than through its early years of operation in the 1870s. In 1884, it struck just four: three gold denominations (half eagle, eagle, and double eagle), and the Morgan dollar. That year marked the end of the facility’s production of the half eagle and eagle, though production resumed in 1890, the year after the facility reopened.
The Carson City Mint struck 9,925 gold eagles in 1884, but many entered circulation and Mint State examples of the date are rare and seldom seen at auction. Stack’s Bowers Galleries is proud to offer an 1884-CC gold eagle certified MS-61 by PCGS as lot 2076 in the Rarities Night session of our June 2023 Showcase Auction. It is among the finest surviving examples and sits at the top of NGC’s Census, which reports just five other grading events for 1884-CC gold eagles in MS-61, with none finer. PCGS reports seven in MS-61 with only four finer.
Owing to their rarity and desirability, Mint State 1884-CC gold eagles don’t often cross the block. Carson City coinage expert Rusty Goe points out in Volume 2 of The Confident Carson City Collector, owners of Mint State examples “have tended to keep them off the market for lengthy periods.” Our cataloger states: “It is an attractive coin in all regards – warm golden-honey surfaces with overlying pinkish-apricot toning, fully struck design elements, and complete mint luster in a softly frosted texture. Exceptionally smooth in hand for both the issue and the assigned grade, accuracy alone compels us to mention a faint line in the left obverse field before Liberty’s bust.” Advanced U.S. gold and Carson City collectors will surely take note of this significant condition rarity and bid accordingly.
For more information on our June 2023 Official Auction of the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Expo, or to consign your numismatic items to this or another of our upcoming auctions, call 800-458-4646 or email Info@StacksBowers.com.
