1889-CC Morgan Dollar (Carson City)

Of all the Morgan dollars struck at the Carson City Mint, the 1889-CC stands at the pinnacle. With a mintage of just 350,000 pieces, the lowest of any Carson City Morgan, and a survival rate that makes even those modest numbers optimistic, the 1889-CC is the key date that every serious Morgan dollar collector must eventually face. It is expensive in any grade, scarce in Mint State, and almost mythically difficult in gem condition.

The Carson City Mint mark, a simple "CC" on the reverse below the eagle's tail feathers, carries more romantic weight than any other mint mark in American numismatics. It represents the Wild West, the Comstock Lode, and a brief, dramatic chapter in the story of American silver coinage.

The Carson City Story

The Carson City Mint operated in Nevada from 1870 to 1893 (with several interruptions). It was established to process the enormous quantities of silver pouring out of the Comstock Lode and other Nevada mines. Located in the state capital, the mint was smaller and less efficient than the Philadelphia, San Francisco, or New Orleans facilities, and its output was correspondingly modest.

This small-scale production is precisely what makes Carson City coins so collectible. Every CC-minted coin carries the frontier mystique of a remote Western outpost converting raw Comstock silver into United States coinage.

Morgan dollars were struck at Carson City from 1878 through 1885, and again in 1889, 1890, 1891, 1892, and 1893. The gap from 1886 through 1888 reflects a period when the mint was closed. When it reopened in 1889, production of Morgan dollars resumed, but at sharply reduced volumes.

Why 1889-CC Is the Key Date

The 1889-CC Morgan dollar holds its key-date status for several reinforcing reasons:

Lowest mintage: At 350,000, it has the smallest production run of any Carson City Morgan dollar. Compare this to the 1882-CC (1,133,000), the 1884-CC (1,136,000), or even the scarce 1893-CC (677,000).

Low survival rate: Unlike many other CC Morgan dates, the 1889-CC was not included in the famous GSA (General Services Administration) sales of the 1970s. When the government opened the Treasury vaults and discovered millions of uncirculated Morgan dollars stored in canvas bags, very few 1889-CC coins were among them. This means the typical survival path for an 1889-CC was through circulation, which dramatically reduces the number of high-grade examples.

No hoard coins: The 1884-CC, for example, survived in huge quantities because entire bags sat untouched in Treasury vaults for nearly a century. The 1889-CC had no such luck. Most examples entered circulation and were used as money.

Genuine scarcity in all grades: Unlike some "key dates" that are scarce only in high grades, the 1889-CC is legitimately hard to find even in circulated conditions. Every grade level from Good through Gem Mint State presents a collecting challenge.

Specifications

• Designer: George T. Morgan

• Composition: 90% silver, 10% copper

• Weight: 26.73 grams (412.5 grains)

• Diameter: 38.1 mm

• Edge: Reeded

• Silver content: 0.77344 troy ounces

• Mint: Carson City, Nevada

• Mint mark: CC (located on reverse, below eagle's tail feathers, above "DO" in DOLLAR)

• Mintage: 350,000

• Estimated surviving population: 10,000 to 15,000 in all grades (approximately 3-4% of original mintage)

Value Guide by Grade

The 1889-CC commands serious money across the entire grading spectrum. This is not a coin with a "cheap" grade.

Circulated Grades

• AG-3 to G-4: $800 to $1,500

• VG-8 to F-12: $1,500 to $3,500

• VF-20 to VF-35: $3,500 to $7,000

• EF-40 to EF-45: $6,500 to $12,000

• AU-50 to AU-53: $12,000 to $20,000

• AU-55 to AU-58: $18,000 to $35,000

Mint State

• MS-60 to MS-61: $30,000 to $50,000

• MS-62: $45,000 to $70,000

• MS-63: $70,000 to $120,000

• MS-64: $150,000 to $250,000

• MS-65: $400,000+ (rarely offered; fewer than 10 known)

These values reflect the coin's genuine rarity. An 1889-CC in MS-65 is one of the great trophies of American numismatics, on par with the rarest gold coins in terms of difficulty and expense.

Condition Assessment Guide

Obverse Check Points:

• Liberty's cheek and jawline (first areas to show wear)

• Hair detail above the ear and in the cap

• Stars and lettering sharpness

• Field quality (contact marks from bag storage)

Reverse Check Points:

• Eagle's breast feathers (high point, wears first)

• Wing tip detail

• Tail feather definition

• CC mint mark clarity and sharpness

Strike Quality: The 1889-CC is known for variable strike quality. Some examples show weakness in the eagle's breast feathers even in otherwise high grades. A fully struck example commands a premium.

Condition Grades at a Glance:

• Gem (MS-65+): Full luster, sharp details throughout. Minimal marks. Virtually unobtainable.

• Choice (MS-63 to MS-64): Strong luster with scattered marks. Details sharp. The realistic goal for wealthy collectors.

• Mint State (MS-60 to MS-62): Full luster but significant contact marks from bag storage. Still extremely rare and valuable.

• About Uncirculated (AU-50 to AU-58): Trace wear on Liberty's cheek and eagle's breast. Most luster retained.

• Extremely Fine (EF-40): Light wear on all high points. Details still well-defined.

• Very Fine (VF-20 to VF-35): Moderate wear. Major design elements clear. CC mint mark sharp.

• Fine (F-12): Even wear throughout. Hair and feather details merging in places.

• Good (G-4): Heavy wear but all lettering and date visible. CC mint mark legible.

Authentication: Critical for This Coin

The 1889-CC's high value makes it one of the most frequently counterfeited Morgan dollars. Authentication is not optional.

Common Counterfeiting Methods:

• Added mint mark: A genuine 1889-P (Philadelphia, no mint mark) Morgan dollar with a fabricated "CC" added to the reverse. This is the most common fraud.

• Altered date: A more common CC-mint Morgan (such as 1890-CC or 1891-CC) with the last digit altered to read "9."

• Complete counterfeits: Cast or struck copies of varying quality.

Detection Tips:

• Examine the CC mint mark under magnification. Added mint marks often show tool marks in the surrounding field, or the letter style may not match genuine Carson City marks.

• Check the date digits for consistency. Altered digits may show different depth, style, or spacing.

• Verify weight (26.73 grams) and diameter (38.1 mm) with precision instruments.

• Compare die characteristics to known genuine examples.

Mandatory recommendation: Buy only PCGS or NGC certified examples. The cost of certification is negligible compared to the coin's value, and the authentication eliminates the risk of expensive mistakes.

Collecting Strategies

CC Morgan Set Collectors: The 1889-CC is the most expensive coin needed to complete a Carson City Morgan set (1878-CC through 1893-CC). Budget accordingly. Some collectors leave this coin for last, building the rest of the set first.

Key Date Collectors: The 1889-CC belongs in any collection of Morgan dollar key dates, alongside the 1893-S, 1895 (Proof only), and 1892-S.

Budget Entry: Even a well-worn Good to Very Good example at $800 to $2,000 represents a genuine numismatic rarity. The CC mint mark is authentic, the silver content is real, and the coin has survived over 130 years. There is no shame in owning a circulated key date.

Investment Approach: The 1889-CC has shown consistent long-term appreciation across all grades. The supply is fixed and declining (coins are lost, damaged, or permanently encapsulated in collections). Demand grows as new collectors enter the Morgan dollar market.

The Romance of Carson City

Every 1889-CC Morgan dollar was struck in a small mint building in Nevada during the twilight of the Western silver boom. The silver in the coin likely came from the Comstock Lode or nearby mines. The coin passed through hands in frontier saloons, mining camps, and railroad towns. It survived because someone, at some point, decided it was worth keeping.

That story, embedded in every genuine 1889-CC, is what separates numismatics from mere accumulation. This is not just a coin. It is a piece of the American West.

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