1872-CC 50C XF40 Certification #04974083, PCGS #6334

CoinFacts Details

Owner's Comments

CAC green sticker, WB-9, R-4 (76-200 extant). CAC data as of 6/18/2022: 31 total, 4 on grade, 7 higher. Comments from Gerry Fortin and Len Augsberger: Classic Eye Appeal, Gem Original, Cumberland County Collection. This 1872-CC half is perfect for the grade and exhibits pleasing, medium gray fields with gold patina at the rims. Bits of dirt fill recessed areas, exactly where they should be, and the originality is undeniable. Surfaces are smooth for the grade, with a few ticks scattered across Liberty. WB-9, with a low date and close spacing in the mintmark. Strike is typical, with star centers evident if faint. Housed in a PCGS Gen 4.1 (2002-2004) holder, with CAC approval. CAC population is 30 pieces in all grades, with seven higher. Opportunities to acquire a collector grade CAC-approved piece are few and far between, and this piece will attract considerable bidder interest. Bought coin in GFRC auction of the Cumberland County Collection. Comments from Heritage Auction on September 28, 2002: A nicely detailed green-gray representative. The luster is subdued, but the fields are surprisingly unabraded. A popular early Carson City issue, and scarce in all grades presumably due to extensive circulation. Population: 8 in 40, 28 finer (7/02). Coin did not have CAC sticker at the time of this Heritage auction. Comment from "A Guide Book of Liberty Seated Silver Coins" by Q. David Bowers: This issue is usually seen with some slight weakness on Liberty's head and foot. Sharp coins exist, but they are rare. WB-1 through WB-9 with 4 obverse and 5 reverse dies, all with Large CC mintmarks. These dies were also used in 1870, 1871, 1873 and 1876.

Expert Comments

Ron Guth

The 1872-CC Half Dollar is a popular date because of a low mintage (257,000 coins) and the always-desirable "CC" mintmark. Most of this date went into circulation, with few examples saved by collectors. The very few Mint State examples that have survived are at the low end of the scale (MS61 to MS63).

According to Bill Bugert, nine distinct die varieties comprise the entire mintage for this datre. Interestingly, the reverse dies used to strike all of these varieties were from previous years, despite the fact that three fresh reverse dies came in from Philadelphia in 1872.

The strike quality of this date is generally good. Luster ranges from frosty to Prooflike.

PCGS #

6334

Designer

Thomas Sully/Christian Gobrecht

Edge

Reeded

Diameter

30.00 millimeters

Weight

12.40 grams

Mintage

257000

Metal

90% Silver, 10% Copper

Pop Higher

Pop Lower

319

Region

The United States of America

Price Guide

PCGS Population

Auctions - PCGS Graded

Auctions - NGC Graded

Rarity and Survival Estimates Learn More

Grades	Survival Estimate The Survival Estimate represents an average of one or more experts opinions as to how many examples survive of a particular coin in three categories: 1) all grades, 2) 60 or better, and 3) 65 or better. These estimates are based on a variety of sources, including population reports, auction appearances, and personal knowledge. Survival estimates include coins that are raw, certified by PCGS, and certified by other grading services.	Numismatic Rarity Numismatic Rarity converts the Survival Estimate for a particular coin into a number from 1 to 10 (with decimal increments) based on the PCGS Rarity Scale. The higher the number, the more rare the coin.	Relative Rarity by Type Relative Rarity By Type ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Type. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.	Relative Rarity by Series Relative Rarity By Series ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Series. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.
65 or Better	250	R-6.6	7 / 45	16 / 126 TIE
All Grades	6	R-9.7	3 / 45 TIE	11 / 126 TIE
60 or Better	0	R-10.1	1 / 45	1 / 126

Survival Estimate The Survival Estimate represents an average of one or more experts opinions as to how many examples survive of a particular coin in three categories: 1) all grades, 2) 60 or better, and 3) 65 or better. These estimates are based on a variety of sources, including population reports, auction appearances, and personal knowledge. Survival estimates include coins that are raw, certified by PCGS, and certified by other grading services.
65 or Better	250
All Grades	6
60 or Better	0

Numismatic Rarity Numismatic Rarity converts the Survival Estimate for a particular coin into a number from 1 to 10 (with decimal increments) based on the PCGS Rarity Scale. The higher the number, the more rare the coin.
65 or Better	R-6.6
All Grades	R-9.7
60 or Better	R-10.1

Relative Rarity by Type Relative Rarity By Type ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Type. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.
65 or Better	7 / 45
All Grades	3 / 45 TIE
60 or Better	1 / 45

Relative Rarity by Series Relative Rarity By Series ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Series. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.
65 or Better	16 / 126 TIE
All Grades	11 / 126 TIE
60 or Better	1 / 126

Condition Census Learn More

Pos	Grade	Pedigree and History
1	MS63 PCGS grade	Superior 5/2001:3533, $23,000 - Battle Born Collection - Stack’s/Bowers 8/2012:11083, $54,625
1	MS63 PCGS grade	Major William Boerum Wetmore Collection - S.H. & H. Chapman 6/1906:369 - John M. Clapp Collection - John H. Clapp Collection, sold intact in 1942 - Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection - Bowers & Merena 4/1997:2019, $27,500 - Douglas L. Noblet Collection - Bowers & Merena 1/1999:163, $26,450 - Heritage 8/1999:6289 - American Numismatic Rarities 1/2005:580, $39,100 - Eugene H. Gardner Collection - Heritage 6/2014:30514, $57,281.25 In the Eliasberg catalog, the 1872-CC Half Dollar (Lot 2019) was attributed to the Harlan P. Smith Collection, sold by S.H. & H. Chapman in 5/1906, however, the named and priced H.P. Smith catalog on the Newman Portal shows no 1872-CC Half Dollars
3	MS62 PCGS grade
4	MS61 PCGS grade
5	AU58 PCGS grade

#1 MS63 PCGS grade

Superior 5/2001:3533, $23,000 - Battle Born Collection - Stack’s/Bowers 8/2012:11083, $54,625

#1 MS63 PCGS grade

Major William Boerum Wetmore Collection - S.H. & H. Chapman 6/1906:369 - John M. Clapp Collection - John H. Clapp Collection, sold intact in 1942 - Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection - Bowers & Merena 4/1997:2019, $27,500 - Douglas L. Noblet Collection - Bowers & Merena 1/1999:163, $26,450 - Heritage 8/1999:6289 - American Numismatic Rarities 1/2005:580, $39,100 - Eugene H. Gardner Collection - Heritage 6/2014:30514, $57,281.25

In the Eliasberg catalog, the 1872-CC Half Dollar (Lot 2019) was attributed to the Harlan P. Smith Collection, sold by S.H. & H. Chapman in 5/1906, however, the named and priced H.P. Smith catalog on the Newman Portal shows no 1872-CC Half Dollars

#3 MS62 PCGS grade

#4 MS61 PCGS grade

#5 AU58 PCGS grade