1873-CC $5 Gold CC Coin of the Week - 7/3/2011

Hi Belay

How heartening it is to hear your words regarding my COWpost...especially you Belay...our premiere COWBOY writer!

I agree with you about this Blog-site, the Curry's Chronicle and our C4OA club giving us all the chance to hone our individual writing skills...a most positive thing and a true gift to us all!

We all have had the chance to begin a development of our own unique and personal writing styles...and you can see a vast improvement for every COWBOY since the humble beginnings of this special project. I sometimes think "Gee, I'd like to go back and re-do all of those earlier posts"...but then again, I once heard The Beatle's John Lennon say the very same thing about re-doing all their early song hits. It just wouldn't be right...it's probably best to just leave them as they are and now we can see the growth of what Rusty called a "Monumental Project"

I am not really and truly a writer per se...I've developed some skills at it (thanks to some very great coaching) and I'v become pretty good...but I will never be the writer that you are my friend...I'll just have to be a satisfied old drummer who enjoys doing these posts. I'm not exactly sure which I've learned more from, doing the posts, or reading them. Either way, we all have gained "CC" knowledge that took decades for experts to learn in the dark ages before the C4OA existed.

I'm also glad you brought up coin pricing; particularly "CC" coin pricing. In each post I do, I purposely list the prices as shown in the widely read book U.S. Coin Prices....Collectors only believe those prices until they actually go out and really buy a "CC" rarity!

It's obvious Belay that you have learned the proper value of great coins...worthy of collecting. So many of our fellow collectors still haven't learned this important lesson...if this "lesson" goes un-learned, those collectors eventually tire of the coin hobby and give it up.
"I've lost too much money"...or "coins are no good...they've been bad for me"...these are the typical complaints you will hear from those collectors who think they can go it on their own and come out winning. Imagine trying to build a championship football, basketball or baseball team with no coach..."heck, I know how to play ball...I don't need anyone telling me what to do"....does anyone really think a team like that would ever win a pennant? The same principal holds true for building a great collection of true rarities like "CC" coins.

Thanks also for recommending my post here for consideration as an article in the Chronicle. I have certainly felt that way about several of your great COW posts too!

See you in August...."B there, or B square" hahahaha

the drummer

Hi Belay

I forgot to mention that I went to the Southgate Coins website and saw those "CC" half eagles (and a whole bunch of other amazing "CC" coins) that you mentioned in your review of my 1873-CC $5....

Would I ever love to have some of those!!! Talk about up-grading my set...wow...dig deep, dig deep!

the drummer

Another great posting presented by the Drummer! You have presented a well written and informative post and this true unique and hard to find issue, the 1873-C.C. half eagle.
I agree with you that NGC got it right the second time when you resubmitted your coin a second go round in grading. The detail is all there and if it did indeed have an old dipping, it must have been a long, long time ago as it does, as one can tell by the picture, have a great original look.
As far as the pricing, I agree with you and Belay, I haven't been to any coin show where C.C. coins are priced near the price guides listings.
One thing though, if I may be so bold as to say, I think your picture of the mine headframe in Gold Hill is of the Crown Point Mine, a little south of the Yellow Jacket. The headframe of the Yellow Jacket Mint is larger, located right behind the old Gold Hill Hotel. I could be wrong........but........
Anyway, great stuff, Drummer. Looking forward to the next one and will see you in Carson come August.
-R-

Hi Randy

Thank you for your nice words on my COW post of the 1873-CC half eagle.
It is a great and rare coin for sure.

Yes..that head frame picture is the one located right above the Gold Hill hotel....I took that picture a few years ago when I was staying at that old historic hotel...I huffed and puffed up the hill to take the shot. The old Yellow-Jacket mine buildings are still there too. They belong to the Gold Hill hotel and have been nicely fixed up.. Although I haven't stayed in one yet, they are for rent as part of the hotel. My sweetie Jo Ann and I plan on doing just that sometime.

I hope you are able to get yourself a nice example of this rare 1873-CC $5 gold piece. Every COWBOY should have at least one.

the drummer

By golly Drummer, you'er absolutly right! That is a headframe of the Yellow Jacket mine. I'm so use to seeing the big original headframe just a stone's throw from the Gold Hill Hotel that I'd forgotten about the one you have pictured. The one in your picture is a more recent shaft put in after 1938 by the Sutro Tunnel Coalition Mines. I confused it with the similar Crown Point further south of this site.
I should never have doubted you, please accept my humble but most sincere apology.
-R-

Hi Randy

Don't worry...it is a good thing to question stuff like this.
No apologies are necessary.

Regarding my photo, it is better to have it questioned than for it to be wrong!

You are correct in that my photo is of the most recent shaft.

Anyway, have you ever stayed at the Gold Hill Hotel? Jo Ann and I have stayed many times but as mentioned, not in the old converted mine buildings...we'd really like to do that sometime.

Not this August though, we're at another VC motel this time around.
See you in August Randy

These old photos keep us all on our toes....hahaha

the drummer