1871-CC LIBERTY $5 AU55

RICH ORANGE PATINA. SECOND YEAR OF CARSON CITY GOLD COINS. JUST TEN COINS GRADED HIGHER AT PCGS. Despite its staus as the most frequently encountered Carson City Mint Half Eagle of the 1870-1873 era, the 1871-CC is still a very rare coin when viewed in the wider context of U.S. numismatics. Only 140-150 coins are believed extant from an original mintage of 20,770 pieces, and the vast majority of these grade below EF. About Uncirculated examples probably number fewer than 20-25 coins, and the major grading services account for a mere four Mint State survivors as of October, 2006.