After a three year hiatus, production of double eagles resumed at the Carson City Mint.

Expert’s Corner: 1889-CC Double Eagle

Even when this date was regarded as “common,” it was one that I really liked. I have been pleased to see it increase in value in the last decade, especially in uncirculated grades. I recommend it in XF40 and above, suggesting the collector wait for an example with good details and natural coloration.

The quality of strike seen on the 1889-CC double eagle varies. The centers are often well defined with sharp hair and feathers. The borders tend to be softer and may show some pronounced weakness on the obverse stars and the edges of the lettering on the reverse. The lower obverse rim, from 5:00 to 7:00, is sometimes weakly impressed, and the denticles in this area may, as a result, be blurry. On the reverse, the value can be weak as well. Most 1889-CC double eagles are seen with very heavily abraded surfaces, and it is challenging to find a piece that is not covered with detracting bagmarks.  

1889-CC Double Eagle Varieties, Grades, and Collector Rarity

In addition, some pieces show mint-made copper spots or areas of toning. The luster is generally of average to slightly above average quality. The majority seen have a grainy, reflective texture. A few are seen with semi-proof-like fields, but these generally have poor eye appeal as a result of marks. The coloration on uncleaned, original examples is a medium orange-gold and greenish hue. Coins with good eye appeal are hard to find, commanding a premium above the typical dull, bright, baggy example.

Varieties are known with a normal first 1 in the date and with repunching on the base of this numeral. The latter is scarcer, but it doesn’t command a premium.

The 1889-CC double eagle is seen most often in the EF45 to AU55 grade range. It is scarce in MS60 to MS61, and it is very scarce in properly graded MS62. In MS63, this issue is very rare with probably fewer than 10 known. The finest single example I know of is a PCGS MS64 coin which is owned by a leading specialist in this denomination.