The Carson City Mint opened for business in 1870. That year, it struck 11,758 silver dollars and 54,617 half dollars. From those figures, one might conclude that the 1870-CC dollar is rarer than its half dollar counterpart. But more dollars were set aside, and the 1870-CC half is certainly the greater rarity, as can be confirmed by both the NGC and PCGS Population reports. It is, in fact, the rarest Carson City half dollar issue.
The NGC population is a mere 2 with 6 graded higher.
Listed at $38,400 in the CDN CPG and $44,500 in the NGC price guide.
This date-mintmark combination is famous because of the unique three dollar gold piece. Although far from unique, specialists in this series recognize the 1870-S gold dollar as a challenging issue. Dave Bowers points out in A Guide Book of Gold Dollars that despite a reported mintage of 3,000 pieces, “it is likely that 2,000 lacked the S mintmark.” Indeed, the first sets of dies sent to the San Francisco Mint for 1870 production inadvertently lacked the mintmark. On May 14, the superintendent of the S-mint sent a telegram to Philadelphia explaining that 2,000 coins had been struck from those dies and asking whether or not they could be issued. It is not known for certain if those pieces were distributed. Assuming they were, that would leave a net mintage of only 1,000 1870-S gold dollars with the identifying mintmark. It may also explain why Augustus G. Heaton called this issue “excessively rare” in his 1893 treatise.
Tied with two others for the highest graded by NGC.
Listed at $38,000 intheNGC price guide.
Offered at $26,700 (ACH, Bank Wire, add 3.5% for Major CC & PayPal)
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This 1870-CC in About Uncirculated is a rare coin in uncommonly desirable condition. Just eight examples of the date are certified in Uncirculated grades between the two major grading services, and About Uncirculated examples are very rare in their own right. Among Seated half collectors, the 1870-CC is ranks near the top of the most challenging issues for the entire series. Competition is intense for problem-free, high-grade examples. The NGC population is only 6 with 7 graded higher.
Listed at $26,400 in the CDN CPG and $30,000 in the NGC price guide.
Offered at $23,625
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Judd-993, Pollock-1123, High R.7. The obverse and reverse dies are both the designs for regular-issue half dollars of 1870. Struck in copper with a reeded edge. Although these could be considered die trials for a regular issue, there is little doubt that, given the plethora of different die designs and combinations, plain and reeded edges, strikes in copper, aluminum, and silver — a cornucopia of variations — that these patterns were offered in sets to collectors or their providers. This is the sole highest graded PCGS example.
Offered at $13,500 delivered
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The 1870-S Liberty double eagle claims a substantial mintage of 982,000 pieces, but most of the coins were released into circulation, where they were either exported or worn down and melted for recoinage. The average survivor grades no better than VF or XF today, and the issue is a prime condition rarity in grades above MS61. The PCGS popualtion is only 17 with 3 higher.
Offered at $18,250 delivered
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