The 1882-CC date recorded the highest mintage of the five years of production of half eagles at the Carson City Mint from the 1880s. Still, we estimate that no more than 1% of its original production number survive today. Most of these examples are in various states of circulated conditions. Possibly no more than 25 to 35 1882-CC $5 gold pieces exist in Mint State condition. The piece offered here is one of the finest known survivors in that grade range.

PCGS reports that it has certified seven examples of this date as MS-62s, with one of these assigned a + (Plus) designation. NGC lists five MS-62 submission events, with a lone MS-63 at the top of the condition census (which no one we know has ever seen). We have no way of knowing if these combined population totals account for resubmissions of the same coins and crossovers from one service or the other.

We can’t imagine that any of the other Mint State examples of this date (including the MS-63, if it exists) surpasses the eye appeal of the one offered here. It displays bright golden-orange color and has detail equal to that seen on the more common 1891-CC half eagles. Small contact marks scattered here and there remind us how impossible it is to find perfection in the “CC” gold coin series, especially among the pre-1890 dates. This coin belongs in one of the finest sets of Carson City $5 gold pieces