The Carson City Mint struck 10,000 1876-CC 20-cent pieces, but only  18 or 20 of them survived after workers melted the rest.   The following year this denomination was discontinued, making it the shortest series in US history.   The Nevada Appeal reports that a Reno coin dealer has just purchased an example for half a million dollars.

Can investing and collecting go hand-in-hand?

Yes  says Larry Schutts on BloggingStocks.  Every year he has given his brothers a new American Eagle Silver Proof dollar (featuring the same Adolph Weinman design as U.S. half dollars between 1916 and 1947), which the US Mint has issued since 1986.  Having told his brothers for years that the coins would accumulate value over time, he recently decided to test that assertion.

Larry concludes that (excluding the 1995 West Point Dollar which was part of a limited edition set also containing four gold American Eagle proofs ) the dollars have collectively gained 200% over their original Mint prices.  Not bad if it’s an investment you’ve had pleasure from owning as well.