By 1872 the Carson City mint had been producing coins for two years, and its output had gradually increased. However, compared to mintages of both the Philadelphia and San Francisco Mints, the total production was usually just a fraction compared to those Mints, which had been established at earlier times. Yet, the need for circulating money in this remote area that was beginning to get more populated with the discovery of the Comstock Lode, was large. As such, it is not difficult to come up with a conclusion why this date, and many other gold and silver coins struck at the Carson City Mint, is so difficult to find. Furthermore, this issue was part of the short-lived and relatively scarce type 2 Liberty double eagles.

The present offering represents a premium quality example of this condition rarity, which only circulated for a short time in the West of the 1870s (presumably). While some wear is visible, there are also some parts of luster still visible in the protected fields. Some scattered marks are to be noted on both sides, but none of these are extremely heavy or distracting. The light yellow golden color that is seen on both sides is quite pleasing in hands, and adds to the overall eye-appeal of this coin. In fact, we think that this coin is of superior premium quality, and that it might be a candidate for upgrading. PCGS has graded 41 coins at this level, with 78 finer, the finest two MS-60 pieces that represent the whole population at the uncirculated level for this date. No doubt, all these numbers have been heavily influenced be resubmissions, as the number of actual coins that exist appears to be much lower.