The 1876-CC double eagle offered here displays marvelous eye appeal for the grade of AU-58 assigned it by PCGS. The luster beams forth on both sides nearly as radiantly as it did on the day this piece left the Carson City Mint. Few AU-58 specimens of this date will compare with the overall beauty emanating from this piece. Indeed, its positive characteristics surpass those seen on many Mint State examples.

Details on all the highpoints on both sides display wonderful sharpness.

The obverse just barely misses the Mint State mark. The reverse easily qualifies for an MS-62 rating, maybe even with a + (Plus) sign added. A moderate number of small hits and scattered hairlines graze the obverse. The only ones worth mentioning are two narrow diagonal scrapes on the central left field to the left of Lady Liberty’s nose. On the reverse, contact marks are minimal. A series of minor abrasions on the left central field to the right of NIT in UNITED, and a diagonal scratch across the Union shield’s horizontal bars are really inconsequential considering this side’s splendid eye appeal.

This is an amazingly attractive specimen of this Type II Liberty Head $20 gold piece from the Comstock Lode’s (and Carson City Mint’s) peak-performance year. Collectors would desire that all their AU-58 “CC” double eagles would match this coin’s exquisiteness.