A rare 1876-CC 20-cent piece will be a highlight lot in Heritage Auction Galleries Signature U.S. coin auction March 28-31 in Baltimore.
Graded MS-64 by Numismatic Guaranty Corp., the coin is from the Belle Collection of Carson City Coinage, and is one of fewer than 20 known surviving examples from a mintage of 10,000.
The current estimate of surviving examples, including the “Maryland Hoard” of seven to nine pieces discovered in the 1950s, is 16 to 18 coins.
“Although we’ve handled specimens of this legendary rarity twice before, it has been nearly a decade since we last offered an example,” said Greg Rohan, Heritage president.
“In MS-64 this piece is one of three so certified at NGC, with only four finer,” he said.
Another Carson City highlight is an 1870-CC $20 gold piece called XF-45 by NGC.
This choice XF example shows the heavy abrasions on both sides that are typical of, literally, every known example, the catalogers note. The surfaces are mellow orange-gold with considerable reflectivity and even some faint prooflikeness remaining in some of the protected areas.
A key Lincoln cent error will be in the sale. An MS-63 Red example of the 1969-S doubled die will go on the block. It is graded by the Professional Coin Grading Service.
Catalogers note that between 17 and 32 examples are believed to exist. That is an extremely small number of coins for a collecting specialty as popular as Lincoln cents, they add.
This beautiful cent has fully brilliant orange luster with satiny, slightly reflective surfaces and bold design features. This piece is one of only three Red Mint State coins at PCGS, and among the finest certified, they say.
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