1879-CC Double Eagle (1879-CC $20) PCGS AU55. This bright, lustrous branch mint 1879-CC Double Eagle is an outstanding rarity. The coin shows some light abrasion marks on Libertys cheek and a few minor marks in the obverse field, which account for the grade. The strike is razor sharp and full on both sides, unlike the strike seen on so many gold coins of the time. The Type 2 double eagles had the motto IN GOD WE TRUST added to the oval of stars on the reverse. The present coin is a Type 3 because, beginning in 1877, the denomination TWENTY DOLLARS was no longer abbreviated.

The Carson City Mint began coinage in 1870 and continued until 1893. Coins issued from this mint used the CC mintmark. When first discovered, gold and silver found in Nevada had to be shipped over the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the branch mint in San Francisco. This trip was dangerous and expensive. The Nevada mine owners asked Congress to establish a branch of the mint in their state, and legislation was enacted in 1863. Carson City was chosen as the location for the mint facility because it was near some of the major mining sites.

Engraver James B. Longacre designed the double eagle. It shows a Liberty head in profile facing left wearing coronet inscribed LIBERTY. Her hair is tightly tied in the back with two loose curls hanging down her neck to the end of the truncation. She is surrounded by thirteen six pointed stars with the date below. Dentils are near the edge on both sides of the coin. The reverse shows a heraldic eagle with elaborate ribbons on both sides of the shield extending from the top corner down to the eagles tail feathers. The ribbons are inscribed, on the left E PLURIBUS and UNUM on the right. The ribbons were added to the design to symbolize the denomination since this was the first twenty dollar double eagle coin. There is an oval of thirteen stars above the eagles head that encircles the motto and an arc of rays from wing tip to wing tip behind the upper half of the oval. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is in an arc above the eagle, and the denomination is below. The mint mark is between the tail feathers and the denomination.

With an original mintage of 10,708, the 1879-CC Double Eagle is rare in all grades. In its population report, PGCS has encapsulated 267 coins. Of them 27 are in AU55 and 46 are better.