Coin of the Week 1870-CC Liberty Seated Half Dollar

1870-CC Liberty Seated Half Dollar

Mintage: 54,617

April 10th 1870 the date of the first half dollars struck at the Mint on Carson Street and the second denomination of silver made at this legendary institution. April 20, 1870 the quarter rounded out the silver coins produced at the Mint.
Three denominations of gold were also introduced in February and March of 1870 and with the combined mintage's of the quarter, dollar and the gold equaled only 38,174 coins struck. With the minting of 54,617 half dollars this established the half dollar denomination as the primary product in terms of quantities issued, a status it would maintain for the first four years of operation.
Since its initial striking in April 1870 the half dollar would be the only denomination made every month and minted in round numbers. In July 1870 however an odd number of 7127 pieces were coined and though there is no explanation from the previous conformity it is interesting that 27 is the number of assay coins that would be required in relation of the total number of coins minted. The requirement being based on one assay specimen reserved for every 2000 coins minted.
There are approximately 200 coins known of all the die marriages in all grades, many which grade below fine and have problems such as damages and heavy cleanings. Even in high grades many are weakly struck and usually have a weak “BER” in Liberty. Most do not have full drapery below Liberty’s elbow either.
One mintmark size is known being a large CC, however there are three obverse dies and three reverse dies paired to make up five die marriages.
An interesting note is that this particular date was almost a second issue in this series as at least two 1869 dated half dollar die pairs were at the Carson City Mint in 1869. The of course were not used “but they almost were “. In a letter dated December 20, 1869 to the Director of the Mint James Pollock, Abraham Curry as Superintendent of the Mint on Carson Street wrote “I propose to open this Branch for the reception of bullion on the first Monday in next month, and to commence coinage as soon thereafter as possible using the dies for 1869 now here (unless otherwise instructed by telegram or letter from you) until new dies shall be received.” Mint Director Pollack denied Curry permission to use the 1869 dies in 1870 because Curry acknowledged this in a telegram dated January 4, 1870.
Condition Census 1870-CC Half Dollars
1870-CC half dollars are rare in XF and above with only two mint state coins known.
PCGS MS62 late of the Queller Family Collection 01/2005.
NGC MS62, ANR Kenneywood Sale 01/2005 lot 576 ex; Bowers and Merena, James Bennett Pryor Collection 01/1996.

Events of 1870
January 2, 1870 Construction of the Brooklyn Bridge Begins

January 8, 1870 US Mint at Carson City, Nevada begins issuing coins

February 2, 1870 Mark Twain, 34 marries Olivia Langdon in Elmira New York.
March 18, 1870 1st U.S. National Wildlife Preserve, Lake Meritt in Oakland Ca.

April 15, 1870 Last day U.S. silver coins allowed to circulate in Canada.

May 31, 1870 E.J. DeSemdt patents asphalt pavement.

August 15, 1870 Transcontinental Railway actually completed in Colorado.

October 25, 1870 Postcards first used in the U.S.

November 27, 1870 NY Times dubs baseball “The national game “.

Info sources: The Mint on Carson Street by Rusty Goe and A Register of Liberty Seated Half Dollar Varieties Volume 2 Carson City Branch Mint by Bill Bugert


Loosechange

Loosechange,

Well done. I learned a couple interesting points from your posting. Although I collect Canadian coins, I did not know the bit about 1870 beeing the cut off for US coins circulating in Canada. Also the possibility of 1869 coins produced in Carson City was quite interesting.

John Armonas

Don't say that John! We will see a bunch of 1869-CC dollars on ebay... :laugh:

Loosechange,

Nice article on the 1870 half dollar with many interesting points about this exceedingly interesting coin!

Believe it or not, one of the reasons we do not have 1869-CC coins is that the masons ran out of a particular kind of brick needed to complete the chimney, which was one of the last aspects of the construction project.

By the time the brick was ordered, shipped to Carson City and the chimney finally completed, it was already 1870!

Belay Off

Loosechange,

You covered this denomination and the year of its issue very well.

I'm sure you now want to own one of these rare half dollars. They are usually the first or second Carson City coin dated 1870 that collectors acquire—this or the Seated dollar—since the quarter, and the three gold issues from that year are very scarce.

Good job.

Rusty

Hi Loosechange

It seems that the Carson mint and "CC" coins are chocked full of interesting stories like the one you portrayed here about 1869 being the "almost" first striking of "CC" coinage.
The carson mint has a history of "almosts, would've beens, couldv'e beens and should've beens".... yours is another intriguing Carson mint story about another great "CC" coin. Great job Loosechange!

the drummer