This splendid example of an 1883-CC $20 gold piece is what you would want all of your “CC” double eagles graded MS-61 to look like. It displays mouthwatering golden-orange color, with that “straight from the coin factory” appearance. The hues on the obverse are a little warmer than what you see on the reverse, which is so totally lustrous and light orange in color, you won’t believe this large gold coin is more than 130 years old.

The details on both sides are very sharply defined, with perhaps a tad bit of weakness at the very crown of Ms. Liberty’s head. A moderate number of scattered nicks, ticks, and other small abrasions are visible on the obverse, but certainly not enough to exceed the limit for the MS-61 grade. In fact, you could make a case that PCGS could have bumped this coin up a point, or at least given it a + (Plus) designation. The evidence for this possible upgrade becomes stronger, the minute you flip this piece over and view its reverse, which is nearly MS-64 in quality. Contact marks on this side are practically unnoticeable.

As an extra bonus, this glorious specimen is pedigreed to The Gilded Age Collection.