1883-CC $20 Liberty PCGS MS61 CAC

In this Type, there were no alterations made to the obverse, but a series of modifications were implemented on the reverse. The oval arrangement of stars above the eagle's head was enlarged, and the motto "IN GOD WE TRUST" was positioned within that oval. Additionally, adjustments were made to the rays above the oval. The shield now features slightly curved sides, differing from the previous Type where they were straight, and the eagle's tail feathers have been positioned lower and closer to the denomination lettering. Minor tweaks were also made to the ends of the scrolls, the number of leaves on the scrolls, and the placement of the wing tips. The inclusion of the motto on our coinage was prompted by Reverend Mark R. Watkinson of Ridleyville, Pennsylvania. The Civil War's uncertainties and horrors stirred strong religious sentiments among the populace, and Rev. Watkinson believed it should be recognized. Secretary of the Treasury, Salmon P. Chase, concurred and, exercising his authority over coin inscriptions, Chase first introduced the motto on the 2-cent piece in 1864. Originally, the motto was intended to read "In God Our Trust," but Chase's collegiate alma mater might have influenced the final wording. Secretary Chase was an alumnus of Brown University, whose motto "IN DEO SPERAMUS" translates to "IN GOD WE HOPE." It is believed that Chase had this in mind when making the ultimate decision regarding the motto's exact wording. The Coin Act of March 3, 1865 granted the Treasury discretionary power to include the motto "on all coins able to accommodate it," referring to coins large enough to accommodate the motto. The Mint interpreted this to encompass all silver coins larger than a dime, half eagles, eagles, and double eagles. It wasn't until 1908 that Congress mandated the inclusion of the motto on gold and silver coins. In 1955, Congress passed legislation requiring the motto to appear on all coins. The demand for Type 2 Double Eagles primarily arises from collectors who specialize in various coin types. While some may add just one Type 2 example to their collections, many opt to acquire specimens from each of the three Mints that produced this coin: Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Carson City. Few collectors attempt to assemble a complete set of dates and mintmarks due to the associated costs. The scarcest issue for this Type is the 1870-CC, with a mintage of just 3,789 pieces. All 1870-CC Double Eagles are exceptionally rare and carry a high price tag. To illustrate their rarity, between the two major grading services, PCGS and NGC, only 132 coins have ever received certification, and none have been designated as uncirculated. Moreover, neither service has certified any example with a grade higher than AU-55.