Lot 1192
1877-CC $5 Liberty. SEGS graded MS-62. Well struck and lustrous however, we do note some fine hairlines due to cleaning. Our grade is MS60. There is only a single flat star among the 13 that surround Liberty. And Liberty's hair is without a doubt, gorgeous in its sharp presentation. From a mintage for the date of 8,680 pieces. Rare so fine; the 1877-CC, when found, is usually in Very Fine or lower grades, as few if any were sent to foreign lands during the era of mintage. The present coin is the one of the few Mint State examples known and desirable as such.
The story of the famous Black Hills Gold Rush in South Dakota has been told and retold, but since this adventure isn't on the agenda of most public schools in 21st century America, these accounts may be lost to future generations.
The times of "fabulous fortunes" back in the 1870s were sensational, wild, perhaps wicked, if short lived. The actual Deadwood & Lead*, South Dakota gold rush began in 1875 and ended in 1877, the year of this half eagle. Yet gold was to play a large role in the area's economy and development for many, many years to come.
Toward the end of the big Black Hills gold rush, mining magnate, George Hearst, father of William Randolph Hearst, arranged to purchase one of the most promising claims in the Lead/Deadwood area for $70,000 and incorporated it as the Homestake Mining Company. This was the foundation of the Hearst fortune.
* (Lead, pronounced LEED. Lead is a mining term. It refers to the main body of ore, which, in this case happened to be Gold not Lead (pronounced led). The lead body of ore was at the top of the mountain where Lead the town was built, hence the name. If that doesn't thoroughly confuse the reader, then nothing will!).
Estimated Value $20,000 - 25,000.
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