1889-CC Morgan Dollar

The 1889-CC Morgan dollar is the premier key date among Carson City-minted Morgan dollars, prized for its combination of low original mintage and the enduring appeal of the Carson City Mint, which operated in the Nevada silver-mining frontier. It is significantly scarcer and more valuable than most other Carson City Morgan dollars, which themselves are already popular with collectors for their mint-mark history.

Because Carson City coins evoke the Old West mining era and the CC mint mark is inherently collectible, the 1889-CC stands as one of the most sought-after single dates in the entire Morgan dollar series for collectors assembling a Carson City set.

The Carson City Mint, established in 1870 to process silver from Nevada's Comstock Lode, struck Morgan dollars intermittently from 1878 until the mint's coining operations ceased in 1893. The 1889-CC saw a notably low mintage compared to other CC-mint years, and many of the coins that were struck saw significant circulation in the mining regions of the American West rather than being set aside by collectors.

Decades later, large quantities of uncirculated Carson City Morgan dollars from various dates, held in Treasury vaults, were sold to the public through the General Services Administration (GSA) hoard sales of the 1970s, but the 1889-CC was represented in that hoard only in very small numbers, reinforcing its status as a genuine rarity relative to other CC dates.

The coin follows the standard Morgan dollar design: Liberty's head facing left on the obverse, and an eagle with wings spread on the reverse. The defining feature is the "CC" mint mark on the reverse, located below the wreath, combined with the 1889 date.

It is struck in 90% silver, 10% copper, measures 38.1 mm, with a reeded edge, identical in specification to all other Morgan dollars. Because of its value, buyers should be cautious of added or altered "CC" mint marks on common-date Morgans and should seek coins certified by a reputable grading service, particularly for coins claimed to come from original GSA holders, which carry their own collectible packaging.

The 1889-CC is one of the most valuable Carson City Morgan dollars, commanding strong prices even in heavily worn, low grades due to its scarcity, and rising sharply in mint-state condition, where it is a genuine condition rarity. It ranks alongside other tough Carson City issues among the hardest CC dates to acquire.

Coins that come in original GSA holders (from the 1970s Treasury hoard sales) can carry added collector interest, though the 1889-CC is scarce even within that context. As with all valuable Morgan dollars, professional grading and authentication are recommended given the prevalence of altered mint marks on lower-value coins passed off as this date.