Rusty,
Your description of the personalities, socio-economic and political events, together with incredibly detailed time lines, has produced the most comprehensive history of the 1876-CC twenty cent coin this CC enthusiast has ever read. There was so much to absorb and learn. I spent the better part of an hour reading the article slowly, while doubling back several times to secure certain facts and dates along the way.
You make an interesting point about the opponents of the 20 cent coin's production accusing those in favor of doing so strictly to benefit the silver industry. As you say, their accusations flew in the face of the facts, such as the volume of silver actually required to make a net-positive impression in favor of the silver mine owners. I would reply to this point by asking you when in our history have facts ever gotten in the way of political demagoguery?
My favorite part of any of your articles always centers upon the provenance of the important coins being described and their journey through the centuries. Your Coin of the Week essay on the 1876-CC 20c piece provides an especially detailed accounting of the wide-flung collectors who have bought and sold the few existing examples of this Carson City rarity. Equally interesting was the slowly building understanding through the decades of this coin's true rarity, beginning with near total naivety and ending in pure reverence.
The best of the stories about individual examples of the '76-CC 20c coin, in my view, is that of the lone circulated piece, graded AU-58, and its minutely detailed history of ownership. One of the things that makes this coin so uniquely interesting is the fact that it was never owned, and perhaps never even handled, by any of the famous numismatic names such as Eliasberg, Green, Norweb, Harold Budd or even Norman Biltz..until ending up in your appreciative hands, a few dozen miles from its place of creation and 133 years later! This is not unlike the story of the king who dressed up as a commoner and lived-out his royal life unknown, among the villagers.
I know you have talked about writing a book about the 1876-CC 20c piece. I sincerely hope that you are able to find the time to do so. The numismatic world will benefit hugely from your unique, hands-on experience and your deep, historical knowledge about this important rarity.
Happy Thanksgiving!...Belay Off
PS: A million thanks for affording me the incredible opportunity to hold and carefully examine MS-66, MS-64 and AU-58 examples of the 1876-CC 20c piece
all at the same time, while visiting the "wizard's cave" in Reno back in 2009. I venture very few coin auctioneers, professional numismatists, graders at PCGS or NGC, collectors whether famous or unknown...nor even those preferring a nom de guerre...have rarely, if ever, had such an honor.
THE MEGA TRIO
