1877-CC 50C AU50 Certification #10663731, PCGS #6356

Green CAC sticker. CAC population data (9/16/2022): 61 total, 5 on grade, 40 higher. WB-1, Type 1, Small CC, Obverse 1, Reverse A, R-5 (31-75 extant). Comments from Gerry Fortin / Len Ausberger from the auction catalogue: Small CC, Gem Original, Seated Appalachian Collection. This GFRC-rated Gem is eye candy at its finest, with rose-gray surfaces surrounded by rich color at the rims. Original Mint bloom remains evident in the protected areas, and the in-hand appeal is strong. WB-1, with a clash mark above the date, and a level mintmark. Well struck, with star centers evident, while a few of the claw joints blend together. The CAC population is 61 pieces in all grades. One cannot have enough coins like this, and even the most jaded collector of finest knowns will appreciate the effort required to locate a particularly choice coin for the grade. This piece won't sell cheaply, but quality rarely does. Housed in PCGS Gen 4.4 (2005-2011) holder with CAC approval. According to Q. David Bowers in a "Guide Book of Liberty Seated Silver Coins", Wiley and Bugert have found that the reed count on all to be 143, a significant change from the long-time standard of 154 used from 1870 through 1875. Small and Medium mintmark varieties are known.

Ron Guth

The 1877-CC Half Dollar has a smaller mintage than the 1876-CC, but the numbers of certified examples of each is very similar.  However, there are far more Mint State examples of the 1877-CC, which raises the question, "Why."  This was not the final year of Half Dollar production at the Carson City, nor was there any reason to expect that collector demand increased substantially in one year.  Was there a mini-hoard of Mint State examples discovered after-the-fact?  Whatever the reason, this is a great opportunity for collectors to obtain nice examples from this scarce Mint at a price that offers good value.  MS63 and MS64 examples exist in nearly equal quantities.  Gems are reasonably common, and even MS66's can be found with relative ease.  Anything better is an extreme rarity.

1877-CC Half Dollars are generally well-made, with a strong strike and clean surfaces.