Carson City Mint Gold Coins
Between 1870 and 1893, there was a United States Mint in Carson City, Nevada. A gold coin that was minted during this time and at this facility are highly sought after and very valuable just because of their rarity. However, it can also be an affordable addition to your collection, because they are more common than many people know.
The Carson City Mint was established during the California Gold Rush, when gold was discovered in the High Sierra Mountains. Before the Civil War, Indians and settlers battled across the plains, settlers trying to get to the gold and take over land while Indians retaliated in an attempt to keep the land that they called their own.
Ships still had to go around South America to get to California, and many miners and settlers were lured to the rush of California’s gold find because they wanted fame, fortune, and a better life for themselves and their families. Sadly, many returned just as quickly back to the Eastern U.S., broke and discouraged.
Most gold bullion found and produced during this time was turned into legal tender with the Liberty Head design that was prominent in this era. Double eagles were the most common coin struck during the 1800s, and they carried a face value of $20 with a weight of .9675 troy ounces of pure gold. These coins were only struck on a few occasions at the Carson City Mint, and they were issued for only 20 years by this mint, which makes them rare and highly valuable to collectors and investors.
Each coin minted at the Carson City facility was struck with a small “CC” mark on the back of the coin, generally right above the denomination of the coin. Less than one half of one percent of the double eagles ever released were struck in Carson City. Very few of these coins were preserved in uncirculated status, because all of the coins were made as legal tender and circulated upon minting as needed. You are far more likely to find Carson City Mint coins that are circulated but in fair condition that you are to find mint condition uncirculated coins. Because of the rapid growth of the West at the time that the mint existed these coins were already needed and in demand before the were produced. Nearly all coins were minted and left the facility very quickly after production to join the circulation of currency.
Carson City struck coins that were very soft and generally wore down very quickly. As a result of this process, the coins that were recovered were often melted down just as quickly as they were circulated, destroying them forever. However, there are a few dates and grades that you can still find available from this era and this mint facility, as long as you know where to look.