It's clear to me that there is a large number of details graded '89 CC's out there...especially from Eternity coins. Anyone have ideas/theories why there are so many?
Yes, but the scarcer dates still sold at a premium. The 1914 D cent was selling at a premium pre-1960 when you could get wheat cents for face. I don't quite see what your argument is here. Also, to augment my original answer, a greater percentage of damaged 1889 CC Morgans are certified because it is still profitable to do so. Not the case with common-date Morgans.
Probably a reflection of the demand side of supply and demand. A lot of collectors want to complete a set of CC Morgans, but the 89 is the rarest (= most expensive). The better grade 89's go to wealthier collectors; less wealthy collectors are forced to settle for poorer grade and problem coins. It doesn't make much sense to grade or market a problem 83 or 84 when mint state examples are abundant and cheap. Different story for 89s. Cal
There is obviously (imo) a lack of uncleaned, undamaged, etc, 1889 CC's...is this all through normal attrition?
Could be because cleaned, circulated common dates are sold anonymously and unceremonioulsly in junk boxes, so that it doesn't seem like there are a lot of cleaned common dates out there in comparison to 89-CC (and other rare dates).
Yeah, I'm a bit baffled and at the same time curious by this...it took me 7-8 months to find my VF30 w/CAC and I paid through the nose for it.
Contemplate: just like 1909-S/VDB and 1916-D, this has been a known rarity since virtually the day of issue. Those whose interests were only for short-term profit have been interested since Day One, and they have been doing what it takes to achieve that profit for 125 years.
