Carson City Morgan Silver Dollars 1878-1893
At Minuteman Rare Coin, we excel at curating historically significant, valuable, and rewarding collections of Carson City Morgan Silver Dollars that you will cherish for a lifetime!
Carson City Morgan Silver Dollars are highly sought after by collectors and investors worldwide.
One of the many reasons they are valuable and highly desirable is 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.
The "Wild West" was a time of gunslingers, dusty boomtowns, rowdy saloons, and the western migration of hundreds of thousands of U.S. citizens seeking their fortune.
Notorious outlaws Jesse James, Billy the Kid, and Butch Cassidy robbed banks, trains, and stagecoaches for these precious coins!
Between 1878 and 1893, the Carson City Mint issued only 14 million Morgan Silver Dollars out of a total of 657 million Morgans minted at five minting facilities over 27 years.
It is estimated that the "CC" mintmark appears on less than 2% of all Morgan Silver Dollars ever minted!
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 help you make informed decisions, select the "right" coins, and avoid the pitfalls that many collectors and investors encounter.
In 1878, when the first Carson City Morgan silver dollars began rolling 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 living 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. This attrition has led to low survival rates for some issues in higher uncirculated Mint State condition, which is why they command premium prices.
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 in the series minted at other facilities.
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 U.S. 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.
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.
There was 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.
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 and challenging Carson City dates to find in higher Mint State condition. 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 highly prized coin among collectors and investors due to its rich history, scarcity, rarity, and historical significance as the last Morgan dollar minted at the Carson City Mint.
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.
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.
The 1889-CC Dollar is one of the great key dates in the Morgan series, and among the Carson City issues, it is far and away the most elusive.
This coin 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 iconic historic treasures that are legendary worldwide!
These authentic rarities from the late 19th century reflect the adventurous spirit of the "Wild West" during the late 1800s.
We highly recommend assembling and completing a 13-coin mint subset of Carson City Morgan Silver Dollars in the highest certified grades that fit your budget.
Completing this set is a challenging, rewarding endeavor and a formidable achievement, representing an exceptional 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 the most historically significant, remarkable, eye-opening, and valuable Carson City Morgan Silver Dollar collection that will enrich your life and bring joy to future generations!
MINUTEMAN RARE COIN
We invite you to join our community of passionate rare coin collectors and investors and take charge of your numismatic journey!
With our experience and expertise in collecting and investing in rare United States gold and silver coins, you'll be empowered to make informed decisions, choose the "right" coins, avoid the pitfalls that collectors and investors encounter, and feel confident you're on the right path to success.
Don't settle for an ordinary Carson City Morgan Silver Dollar collection; let’s create an extraordinary "CC" Morgan Dollar collection together!
Create your lasting legacy with a rare coin collection that will enrich your life and bring joy to future generations!
Allow us to assist you in assembling the most historically significant, valuable, and rewarding Carson City Morgan Silver Dollar coin collection you will cherish for a lifetime!
Seize this opportunity to expand your knowledge of the historical significance and value of United States rare gold and silver coins and master the art of collecting and investing in these precious treasures!
Sincerely,
Edward Walsh
President/CEO
Lead Numismatist
Minuteman Rare Coin
