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Guide to Building Carson City Mint Sets

The Morgan Silver Dollar series carries the distinction of being the most collected series of coins ever produced by the United States Mint. Those produced in Carson City, Nevada are the most cherished and sought-after of all the Morgans, making CC Morgans the most popular and desired Silver Coins ever produced by the United States.

Holding a Carson City Morgan Dollar brings you back to a time and place of lore and legends. The American Wild West of the 1800s is renowned for its mystique and

adventure the world over. From the 49er Gold Rush to the Comstock Lode, nothing portrays the history and attraction of the Wild West more than Carson City Morgan Dollars.

It is for these reasons and others that we recommend acquiring Morgan Silver Dollars minted in Carson City. Because of their historical importance and the large base of collectors who focus on Morgan Dollars minted in Carson City, Nevada, pricing on CC Morgans have held strong even in an environment where other coins may have fallen in value. This offers you downside protection with added upside potential. (Check out Carson City Morgans we have for sale in stock)

History of the Carson City Mint

In 1859, when Carson City was just a fledgling town with only a few small Gold and Silver mines, the first Gold and Silver began to be extracted from what would later become famously known as the Comstock Lode. At that time no one could have guessed that the Comstock Lode would prove to be the largest find of Gold and Silver ever discovered in the history of the United States.

Because of the difficulty of hauling the Gold and Silver across the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the nearest mint in San Francisco, Congress passed legislation in 1863 to establish a mint in Carson City. Construction began after the Civil War ended in 1865 and was completed in 1869. 

The first coins struck in Carson City were Liberty Seated Dollars bearing the date of 1870. The first Morgan Dollars bearing the famed CC Mint Mark were produced in 1878, which was the very first year of the Morgan  Dollar series. The Carson City, Nevada Mint produced both Gold & Silver coinage for 23 years only from 1870-1893.

How to Collect CC Morgan Dollars

The Carson City Morgan Dollar series is surprisingly easy to complete by a collector of average means. There are only 13 coins in the series and only a few stoppers exist in the collection. Apart from the 1889 CC and a couple of others, most of them are fairly easy to acquire in Brilliant Uncirculated condition.  

Keep in mind that because of the crude methods used in their production compared to the well budgeted and better-equipped mint in Philadelphia, coins struck in Carson City were made in extremely limited numbers. Almost all CC Morgan Dollars are more scarce than their counterparts produced at other mints, and therefore do carry a premium compared to coins produced elsewhere in higher numbers.

We recommend that you consider a plan that includes focusing on the entire series. This is a reachable goal since there are only 13 different CC Morgans. Complete collections can sometimes bring a premium upon resale, and the thrill of finding that special coin that you have been waiting for is second to none.  

A complete set of average quality certified CC Morgans can be obtained for less than $15,000. For those of you that are unsure if you would like to begin such an endeavor but like the idea of having profit potential while dipping your toe into the Rare Coin market, then consider getting started with the more readily available Carson City Morgans like the 1882-1884 dates. This date run is a great place for beginners and all these dates can be acquired for under $1000 in mint condition, for all three.

In many cases, it is wise to purchase the more readily available dates like 1882-1884 in grades that are above average for the issue. Conversely, some collectors might have to accept lower than average grades for the key dates like the 1889 and 1879 CCs. Others might decide to get only the finest above average grades.  

This is the beauty of the Carson City Morgan Dollar Collection – it can be adjusted to fit your collection goals. One entire 13 coin acquisition of less than average grades could be purchased for less than $5,000 while a collection that exists in above average conditions could sell for over six figures. This collection fits well with investors of all calibers.

Importance of Certified Coins

Each of the coins offered in this Special Release has been inspected and certified either by Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) or Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC). These independent third-party grading services are highly respected the world over.  Not only do they verify the authenticity of the coin but they also state its condition.  NGC and PCGS have leveled the playing field between coin buyers and coin dealers setting the standards of excellence in the industry. To learn more about certified coins contact one of our Rare Coin specialists at Austin Rare Coins & Bullion.

Why Collect Carson City Silver Dollars

It would be hard to argue that any coin embodies the history and allure of the American Wild West more than Morgan Silver Dollars produced in Carson City from the silver mined at the Comstock Lode. The Carson City Morgan series is the most collected series of coins within the Morgan Dollar Collection, which is the most collected and sought-after Silver Coins ever produced by the United States Mint. The series is highly sought after with legions of collectors that create a constant demand for coins like these. This provides downside price protection and offers true value.  

Finally, the Carson City Morgan Dollar collection is one of the only collections of Pre-1933 U.S. coinage that can be completed by a collector of average means. 

Below we have included a description of each coin in the series and a checklist that will help you get started.  Included in this invaluable research is the original mintage for each coin in the series, the average grade among all CC Morgans certified for each date, the average price of the average grade for every coin, along with important comments for each. 

We think that this recommendation could pay off handsomely in due time and would encourage you to acquire these Carson City Morgan Dollars immediately.  Take a look at our current Carson City Morgan Silver Dollars and call Austin Rare Coins & Bullion to begin your collection.

1878 CC Morgan 

Original Mintage: 2,212,000 

Number Survived: ~ 40,000 

Recommended Grade Range: MS-63 - MS-66 

Estimated Price Range: $550 - $6,500 Comments: First Year Issues are always highly sought after. Don’t let this high mintage fool you; the coin is very scarce in grades MS 64 and higher. 

1879 CC Morgan

Original Mintage: 756,000 

Number Survived: ~ 10,000 

Recommended Grade Range: XF-45 - MS-63 

Estimated Price Range: $1,500 - $8,000 Comments: One of the toughest dates to acquire in the series, the 79 CC is highly desirable in quality condition. Very few survived to be graded by PCGS and NGC. 

1880 CC Morgan 

Original Mintage: 591,000 

Number Survived: ~ 18,000 including all varieties. 

Recommended Grade Range: MS-63 - MS-66 

Estimated Price Range: $750 - $2,800 Comments: A low mintage figure but a much higher survival rate compared to the 79 CC. There are many different varieties of 1880 CCs. Can be obtained in high grades.
 

1881 CC Morgan 

Original Mintage: 296,000

Number Survived: ~ 32,500

Recommended Grade Range: MS-63 - MS-67

Estimated Price Range:  $650 - $4,800
Comments: An affordable CC Morgan in Brilliant Uncirculated
Condition that is readily available in MS 63-65 condition.

 

1882 CC Morgan 

Original Mintage: 1,133,000

Number Survived: ~ 58,000

Recommended Grade Range: MS-63 - MS-66

Estimated Price Range:  $350 - $1,500
Comments: One of the most available of all the CC Morgans the
1882 – 1884 coins are the easiest and least expensive coins to find in
the entire series. This is a perfect date run for someone who is just
getting started in the Rare Coin markets and is an ideal entry point
into CC Morgans.

 

1883 CC Morgan 

Original Mintage: 1,204,000

Number Survived: ~ 72,000

Recommended Grade Range: MS-63 - MS-66

Estimated Price Range:  $325 - $1,100
Comments: One of the most collectible of all the CC Morgans the 1882 – 1884 coins are the easiest and least expensive coins to find in the entire series. This is a perfect date run for someone who is just getting started in the Rare Coin markets and is an ideal entry point into
CC Morgans.

 

1884 CC Morgan 

Original Mintage: 1,136,000

Number Survived: ~ 82,000

Recommended Grade Range: MS-63 - MS-66

Estimated Price Range:  $325 - $1,100
Comments: One of the most popular of all the CC Morgans the 1882 – 1884 coins are the easiest and least expensive coins to find in the entire series. This is a perfect date run for someone who is just getting started in the Rare Coin markets and is an ideal entry point into
CC Morgans.

 

1885 CC Morgan

Original Mintage: 228,000

Number Survived: ~ 37,000

Recommended Grade Range: MS- 63 - MS-66

Estimated Price Range:  $900 - $2,900
Comments: One of the more scarce dates in the Carson City Series, the 1885 CC is harder to obtain than most. This is the last year of issue for what many call the “early CC dollars” that were produced from 1878-1885 before a hiatus that lasted until 1889.

1889 CC Morgan

Original Mintage: 350,000

Number Survived: ~ 9,000

Recommended Grade Range: XF-40 - AU-58

Estimated Price Range:  $4,200 - $19,000
Comments: With a very low survival rate, 1889 is the key date and undisputed King of “CC” Morgans. As a matter of fact, it’s considered among the rarest of all Morgan Dollars produced by any mint. It’s extremely rare in Mint State and specimens with exceptional eye appeal are known to demand strong premiums.  

 

1890 CC Morgan

Original Mintage: 2,309,041

Number Survived: ~ 19,500

Recommended Grade Range: MS-62 - MS-65

Estimated Price Range:  $700- $7,000

Comments: One of the more scarce dates in the series the 1890 CC is tough to acquire in grades MS 63 and higher. Though relatively available in lower grades, its low survival rate of fewer than 20,000 coins makes the 1890 CC one of the most sought after in the series.

 

1891 CC Morgan 

Original Mintage: 1,618,000

Number Survived: ~ 23,000

Recommended Grade Range: MS-62 - MS-65

Estimated Price Range:  $650 - $5,000
Comments: The 1891 CC, while slightly less rare than the 1890 CC, is still considered a scarce date within the series. The coin becomes hard to find in any grade above MS 64 but is readily available and affordable in MS 62 or lower.

 

1892 CC Morgan

Original Mintage: 1,352,000

Number Survived: ~ 13,000

Recommended Grade Range: AU-50 - MS-64

Estimated Price Range:  $900- $3,600
Comments: The 1892 CC is one of the toughest dates in the series,
especially in higher grades. With a very low survival rate, the 1892 CC ranks among the rarest of the entire Morgan Dollar Series.

 

1893 CC Morgan 

Original Mintage: 677,000

Number Survived: ~ 9,800

Recommended Grade Range: XF-40 - MS-62

Estimated Price Range:  $1,750 - $8,000
Comments: The last year of issue for the Carson City Morgan Series, the 93 CC ranks among the rarest of the collection. With a survival rate of fewer than 10,000 coins, the 93 CC is rare in almost any grade and would bring over $65,000 in MS 65 condition

Find our current Morgan Silver Dollars for Sale

* Average prices indicate a range for average coins for those grades. Often times coins exhibiting above-average characteristics for the grade will be more expensive than prices listed.

Call 1-800-928-6468 today and let one of our Carson City Silver Morgan Dollar Specialists assist you.