MINUTEMAN
RARE COIN
(339) 222-4571
Carson City Morgan Silver Dollars 1878-1893
At Minuteman Rare Coin, we excel at curating the most historically significant, valuable, and rewarding Carson City Morgan Silver Dollar collections to suit our clients' interests and budgets.
Carson City Morgan Silver Dollars are highly sought-after by collectors and investors worldwide due to their connection to one of the most historically significant and legendary eras in United States history, the "Wild West."
Holding a Carson City Morgan dollar in your hand takes you back to a time of adventure, opportunity, danger, legend, and lore.
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The "Wild West" was a time of gunslingers, gold and silver mining boomtowns, outlaws, and the western migration of hundreds of thousands of U.S. citizens seeking their fortune.
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Jesse James and his gang famously robbed banks for these coins!
Between 1878 and 1893, the Carson Mint issued just 14 million Morgan Silver Dollars from a total of 657 million minted over 27 years.
The "CC" mintmark appears on only about 2% of all Morgan Silver Dollars produced.
Consequently, Carson City Morgan Dollars are highly coveted by collectors and investors globally, particularly those in higher Uncirculated Mint State condition.
At Minuteman Rare Coin, our expertise will assist you in making informed decisions and selecting the "right" coins.
In 1878, when the first Carson City Morgan Silver dollars rolled off the coin minting presses, folks living in the Eastern part of the U.S. had become accustomed to using federally issued paper currency, "greenbacks," while those in the West didn't trust banks or government-issued paper currency and preferred gold and silver coins.
Carson City Morgan silver dollars were widely circulated in the West, leading to their low survival rates in Uncirculated Mint State condition.
These coins are highly valued today due to their historical significance, rarity, and consistent price appreciation.
Carson City Morgan dollars generally carry a premium over other Morgan dollars, although there are exceptions for key and semi-key date coins minted elsewhere.
The Carson City Mint closed in 1893 due to the repeal of the Sherman Silver Purchase Act, which resulted in the Panic of 1893.
THE COMSTOCK LODE
Carson City, Nevada, was an unlikely site for a United States Mint.
The Bureau of the Mint chose this location due to its proximity to the largest silver strike the world had ever seen, the famous Comstock Lode.
Carson City was located only 12 miles from the discovery. It was built as a boomtown ruled by large mining companies and later became the capital of Nevada.
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In 1859, two prospectors dug a ditch to collect water in Six-Mile canyon in the Sierra Nevada Mountains near a dusty little town named Virginia City when they realized they had discovered Gold.
What they didn't know was that they had discovered the largest silver vein the world had ever seen. The problem was how to mine and coin all this raw silver ore into currency.
The nearest mint was located over 200 miles away in San Francisco. To reach it meant crossing dangerous territory occupied by Native American Indians, encountering notorious outlaws, and ultimately passing through the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
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There became an urgent need for the U.S. Bureau of the Mint to add a branch mint to bring coin production closer to the Comstock Lode's tremendous gold and silver mine location.
In 1863, Congress authorized and approved the construction of the Carson City branch mint.
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Still, for unknown reasons, the Carson City Mint didn't open its doors for operation until 1870 and immediately started producing gold and silver coins.
After the passage of the Bland-Allison Act in 1878, the production of the Morgan Silver dollar began in earnest.
The first Morgan dollars bearing the famed "CC" mintmark began rolling off the coin presses in late 1878.
KEY-DATE CARSON CITY MORGAN
SILVER DOLLARS
1892-CC
1893-CC
1879-CC
1889-CC
1892-CC
This coin is one of the most difficult Carson City dates to find in higher Mint State conditions. Its low survival rate makes it one of the rarest coins in the entire Morgan Silver Dollar series.
Collectors and investors always show strong demand for this coin. Most of the mintage went straight into circulation, leading to a low survival rate and making it a rare find as one ascends the rare coin grading ladder into higher Uncirculated Mint State condition.
The coin is typically well-struck and features excellent frosty luster.
1893-CC
The 1893-CC is a highly sought-after coin and ranks as the third-rarest in the Carson City Morgan Dollar series. It marks the final year the Carson City Mint produced the Morgan Silver dollar before its closure.
The best-known example of an 1893-CC is a single MS-66. It has long been a favorite among collectors and investors due to its rich history, scarcity, rarity, and historical significance as the last Morgan dollar minted in Carson City.
1879-CC
1879-CC Silver Dollars are highly appealing to collectors and investors, as they are among the rarest Morgan Dollars minted at Carson City.
There are two distinct varieties of the 1879-CC: one with a rusted mintmark, often referred to as the "Capped CC," and the other with an unrusted mintmark. Both varieties are highly sought after and difficult to find, with a low survival rate and a limited number of survivors for certified Mint State coins above MS-64.
While the non-rusted version is more prevalent, strong demand from collectors and investors keeps the values of both varieties elevated.
Currently, only one non-capped example has been graded MS-66, and none exceed this grade, while capped die examples have not surpassed a MS-65 grade.
The 1889-CC
is considered a significant rarity in high Uncirculated Mint State condition, often priced beyond the means of many collectors and investors, and it seldom appears on the market.
Due to unknown controversial circumstances, the Carson City Mint temporarily halted the production of Morgan Silver Dollars in 1885, resuming in late 1889. That year, only 350,000 Morgan dollars were minted at Carson City, with very few released into circulation.
Estimates suggest that between 250,000 and 325,000 of the 1889-CC Morgans were melted, making this coin one of the rarest in both the Carson City series and the entire Morgan Dollar series itself.
The 1889-CC is highly regarded by collectors and investors alike, offering an exceptional investment opportunity for growth in value and price appreciation over time.
SUMMARY:
Carson City Morgan Silver Dollars are renowned, historic treasures that are legendary worldwide!
These authentic rarities from the late 19th century reflect the life of the "Wild West" during the late 1800s.
We highly recommend assembling a complete 13-coin mint subset of Carson City Morgan Silver Dollars in the highest certified grades that suit your budget. Completing this set is a challenging yet rewarding endeavor and represents an incredible opportunity for future financial rewards.
If you're new to rare coin collecting and investing, Minuteman Rare Coin is ready to assist you in assembling a remarkable, eye-opening Carson City Morgan Silver Dollar collection that will enrich your life and bring joy for generations to come!
MINUTEMAN
RARE COIN
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