1871-CC Double Eagle (1871-CC $20) NGC AU55. Fresh, true AU in an old holder. Mint luster peaks out from the devices of this lovely Carson City Type 2 1871-CC Double Eagle. Some light abrasion and wear on the highest points keep this coin out of the mint state category. There are a couple of small contact marks Libertys neck, the obverse field, and on the shield, which are consistent with the grade. The strike is strong on the reverse but somewhat less so on the obverse. The 7 and 1 of the date almost touch each other, which is a characteristic of this date. The double eagle was minted as a result of the tremendous quantities of gold discovered in California.

The Gold Rush of 1849 caused a huge increase in the amount of gold that came into the Mint for coinage. In that year, a bill was introduced into the House of Representatives to create twenty dollar coins called double eagles. It was felt that international and large domestic transactions would be facilitated by the larger denomination. Mint Director Robert Patterson tried to use this time as an opportunity to replace Longacre as Engraver. Longacre had obtained his position through John C. Calhoun, the former Vice President, and was hated by Patterson. He was afraid that Longacres continued presence would disrupt the illegal and lucrative medal making business of his friend, Franklin Peale. Despite Pattersons encouragement of harassment against him, Longacre prevailed and maintained his position.

Longacre abandoned the Turban Head Liberty of the earlier ten dollar eagle and adapted Gobrechts Large Coronet Cent of 1839-57. The obverse is similar to the Coronet motif used on other gold coins of the 1840 to 1907 era. It was incorrectly felt that standardization of design would lessen counterfeiting. In the new design, Liberty wears a coronet, and her hair is tied in the back as curls flow down her neck. The date is below the truncation, and thirteen stars surround her head. Like the earlier Large Cents, the coin has dentils near the edge on both sides. The heraldic eagle of the reverse has a circle of thirteen stars above its head which are surrounded by rays. E PLURIBUS UNUM is found on matching ribbons on each side of the eagle. These ribbons were added to symbolize the new denomination, the double eagle. The present coin is a Type 2. The denomination is abbreviated TWENTY D., and IN GOD WE TRUST was added to the slightly enlarged oval of stars. This addition was a result of pressure brought about by the Reverend M.R. Watkinson, of Ridleyville, Pa. Congress insisted that the motto be added.

Early in the 1870s the Carson City issues were limited. Bankers preferred to ship the bullion to San Francisco, claiming that the Carson City mint issued debased coins. Many CC coins of the era are seen with edge test marks because of this suspicion. (The present coin has no test mark on it.)

The original mintage of the 1871-CC double eagle is 17,387, which might lead on to think that the coins are somewhat common. However in its population report NGC has a total of 156 graded in all states of preservation with 24 in AU55 and 22 better and PCGS has 9 in AU55 with none better.