Choice 1873-CC Half Dollar with Arrows to be Sold at Long Beach
Arrows were placed at the date on the 1873-CC Half Dollar part way through the year in 1873, to indicate a slight increase in the weight of the planchet, from 12.44 grams to 12.5 grams. The arrows were continued in 1874, and removed the following year, creating a popular two-year design type.
The mintage of Arrows 1873-CC Half Dollar at the Carson City Mint was a relatively modest 214,560 pieces in 1873, making the issue rare at the MS64 grade level, and virtually unobtainable any finer.
A mere four pieces have been awarded finer numerical grades than this NGC-graded MS64 example of this 1873-CC Half Dollar Heritage is offering in their current Long Beach Signature auction.
NGC has seen fit to grade two examples of the 1873-CC Half Dollar at the Gem (MS65) level, while PCGS has graded one coin each at MS65 and MS66, along with a single example at MS64+.
The Heritage September 6-9 Long Beach Signature Auction features an impressive Choice example , with sharply detailed design elements, aside from some weakness on the tail feathers. Clash marks show in the reverse shield and fine die cracks are evident through the olive leaves. The well-preserved surfaces are lustrous and appealing, with highlights of sea-green and lavender-gray
