The mintage figure for the 1878-CC is considerably lower than for the previous four double eagles made at the Carson City Mint. It is by far the rarest of three double eagles struck during this year. It is, however, slightly more available than it was prior to the early 1990s as a result of some small groups being found.

Expert’s Corner: 1878-CC Double Eagle

The 1878-CC remains one of my favorite CC double eagles. This is a date that I highly recommend in any grade, especially EF40 and higher. If you have a chance to acquire a choice, high grade piece, I very strongly recommend making this purchase.

This is generally a well-made issue. Most 1878-CC double eagles are sharp on the hair of Liberty and show full radial lines within the stars on the obverse. The reverse is also well detailed. The surfaces on most are much abraded but, with patience, it is possible to find a coin with acceptable fields. On the obverse of nearly all known 1878-CC double eagles, there is a long, thin vertical die scratch close to the hair of Liberty. On the reverse, there are raised die lumps near the second T in TWENTY, a small die scratch below the D in DOLLARS and other small die scratches below the value.

1878-CC Double Eagle Traits, Eye Appeal, and Collector Value

These are mint-made and do not affect the value of the coin. The luster on higher grade 1878-CC double eagles is quite good with some of the higher grade survivors having an exceptionally thick, frosty luster. There are a small number of semi-proof-like to fully proof-like pieces, and these generally command strong premiums. The coloration on original, uncleaned examples is a nice rich orange gold and, less often, a blend of deep green and rich yellow-gold. Finding an 1878-CC with good eye appeal has become very difficult, as most of the choice, higher grade pieces are off the market in private collections.