A twenty-cent piece from the Carson City Mint dated 1876 is for sale in an auction in New York City in October; and the estimated sale price is $250,000. Author, and Carson City coin expert, Rusty Goe says that the bidding will be fierce for this special piece. ?It is one of only 18 or 19 examples known,? says Goe and it ?is one of the most celebrated coins in the history of coin collecting in the United States.? So, why is this particular coin so special, and what makes it so valuable? The answer to both questions says Goe, is ?the increasing popularity of the Carson City Mint.? Collectors are obsessed with coins from this legendary Nevada mint, primarily says Goe, because there are just enough of the coins to make a game of it, but not so many as to ever flood the market. Additionally, the Carson City Mint operated during what is referred to as America?s Gilded Age, evoking romantic sensations of nostalgia. The mint is also associated with Nevada?s historic Comstock Lode, one of the greatest mining discoveries of all time, and also the Old West era, with its images of stagecoaches, Ponderosa ranches, Mark Twain, and gunslingers.
Goe operates Southgate Coins in Reno, Nevada, located just one half hour from the site of the old Carson City Mint. The historic building was purchased by the state of Nevada in 1939 and converted into a museum which opened in October of 1941. Colorful and interesting artifacts from Nevada?s past are always on display, including some of the most valuable Indian baskets in existence, and a re-creation of mining operations from nearly 140 years ago. Tops on visitors? lists of exhibits to view are the old coins on display, including one extremely valuable set consisting of 109 examples of the 111 different date/denomination combinations produced at the Carson City Mint. Goe estimates the value of this particular set, which was originally assembled by Nevada legend Norman H. Biltz, at $3 million. It would be difficult for a collector today to replicate this set, says Goe. ?Even if a person had all the money in the world,? says Goe, ?the coins are simply not available.? Occasionally one of the rare issues appears in an auction, like the 1876-CC twenty-cent piece mentioned earlier, but ?the opportunities are far and few between,? says Goe. This is what gives ?thrill to the hunt,? according to Goe. Lack of availability, though discouraging to collectors craving to fill in their collections, also ?adds to pleasing satisfaction when the conquest is finally made,? says Goe. ?I have clients who have had many of these coins on their want lists for years,? says Goe. ?I tell them to remain patient and in the meantime enjoy the coins already in their possession.?
Every time one of these ?CC? rarities crosses the auction block, the value of the Nevada State Museum?s collection increases in value. We asked Goe if the museum owned an 1876-CC twenty-cent piece in its collection. ?Yes it does,? answered Goe; ?in fact, it is one of the finest specimens of this date known to exist.? Goe says that the former owner of the coin, Norman Biltz, who died in 1973, purchased it at an auction in 1966 for $12,750. Biltz would undoubtedly have been skeptical says Goe, ?If someone had predicted in 1966 that forty-one years later the coin would be worth $300,000 or more.? Actually, reflects Goe, the coin is probably greatly undervalued even at today?s price level, when compared to other rarities in the field of coin collecting. ?The 1876-CC twenty-cent piece will definitely be a $1 million coin in the not-too-distant future,? predicts Goe. The way ?CC? coins are skyrocketing in value, according to Goe, other dates from this mint will also be included in the ?Millionaire Club,? which already boasts of a rare dime dated 1873, which Goe says he sold for seven figures in 2004.
High resolution images of rare ?CC? coins and other items related to the topic are available upon request. Rusty Goe may be reached for interviews or book signings by contacting Marie Goe at 775 322-4455, or email at:
mariesgate@sbcglobal.net