The Carson City Morgan Silver Dollar
Feb 27th 2024
Carson City Morgan Silver Dollar
The Carson City Morgan Silver Dollar is always a fan favorite among collectors. Just hearing the words "Carson City," gets collectors to think back to the days of the Wild West and expansion of America's frontier. Furthermore, the Carson City Morgan is often coveted because of its short span of production and lower mintages in comparison to other Morgan Silver Dollars.
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Morgan Silver Dollar Background
The Morgan Silver Dollar was first initially produced in 1878 and then ceased production in 1921. From 1905-1920 there was a pause in production because of low demand and because silver bullion became scarce. Thereafter, the Morgan Silver Dollar was produced one last time in 1921. Moreover, the Morgan Silver Dollar was produced at five different mint locations which included Carson City, Denver, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and New Orleans.
Design, Purity & Weight
George T. Morgan was the designer of the Morgan Silver Dollar. A portrait of lady liberty is featured on the obverse of the coin, and on the reverse is a stunning eagle. Each Morgan Silver Dollar consists of 90% silver and 10% copper. The net silver content per Morgan Silver Dollar is .77344 oz's and the coin itself weighs 26.73 grams. The diameter of the coin is 38.1 mm and features a reeded edge.
The Carson City mint was established in Carson City, Nevada in 1863 by Congress. The purpose of the mint was to produce coins with the newly found silver sourced from the Comstock lode. At that time, it was the largest silver discovery in the nation's history. Officially, the Carson City Mint opened its doors in 1870 and began producing coins. The first coins to be produced were Seated Liberty Dollars, only to soon be followed by the Morgan Silver Dollar. The Carson City Mint's mint status was officially withdrawn in 1899 and was permanently closed in 1933. The state of Nevada bought the building and it has served as a museum to this day.
Carson City Morgan Silver Dollar
The Carson City Morgan Silver Dollar was first produced and distributed in 1878. It was made until 1893 when the Carson City Mint stopped producing Morgan Silver Dollars. An important fact to note is that there were no 1886, 1887, 1888 Carson City Morgan Silver Dollars ever minted. The reason for this was purely political. The political issues resulted in the Carson City Mint being closed from the middle of 1885 until 1889. Thereafter it reopened its doors and produced Morgan Silver Dollars until 1893.
Carson City Morgan Dollar Mintages
1878- 2,212,000
1879 CC- 756,000 (includes varieties)
1880 CC-495,000 (includes varieties)
1881 CC- 296,000
1882 CC- 1,133,000
1883 CC- 1,204,000
1884 CC- 1,136,000
1885 CC- 228,000
1889 CC- 350,000
1890 CC- 2,309,041
1891 CC- 1,618,000
1892 CC- 1,352,000
1893 CC- 677,000
Carson City Morgan Dollar Key Dates
The key date coins in the Carson City Morgan Silver Dollar Series are the 1889-CC, 1893-CC, and the 1879-CC. The three issues are not the lowest mintage in the series, however they are very rare in higher grades such as Mint State quality or better. Very few of these Carson City Morgan Dates survived in higher grades.
What were the specific political issues that led to the closure of the Carson City Mint from the middle of 1885 until 1889?
The closure of the Carson City Mint from the middle of 1885 until 1889 was primarily due to political issues that stemmed from national debates over silver coinage and its impact on the economy. During this period, the United States was embroiled in a controversy known as the "Free Silver" movement, which advocated for the free coinage of silver to inflate the currency and relieve debtors. This movement clashed with the gold standard proponents who viewed silver coinage expansion with skepticism. The political turmoil affected the operations of mints, particularly those like Carson City, which were directly tied to silver production. Budget allocations, minting authorizations, and the broader economic policies influenced by these debates led to operational disruptions, causing the temporary closure of the mint.
How does the rarity of the Carson City Morgan Silver Dollars in higher grades affect their value compared to those in lower grades or from other mints?
The rarity of the Carson City Morgan Silver Dollars in higher grades significantly affects their value, making them considerably more valuable than those in lower grades or from other mints. Coins in Mint State quality or better are sought after by collectors due to their scarcity, aesthetic appeal, and historical significance. The condition of a coin plays a crucial role in its market value, with higher-grade coins fetching premiums that can be several times higher than the same coin in a lower grade. This disparity in value is especially pronounced for key dates from the Carson City Mint, where even a slight difference in grade can result in a substantial difference in price due to the coins' rarity and the demand among collectors for the best-preserved examples.
What role did the Comstock Lode play in the overall production of the Carson City Morgan Silver Dollars, and how did the lode's output fluctuations impact the mint's operations?
The Comstock Lode played a pivotal role in the production of the Carson City Morgan Silver Dollars, as the mint was established specifically to coin the massive amounts of silver being extracted from the lode. As the largest silver discovery in the nation's history at that time, the Comstock Lode's output had a direct impact on the mint's operations, with fluctuations in silver yield affecting the quantity of coins produced. During years of high silver output, the Carson City Mint ramped up production of silver dollars, whereas declines in the lode's productivity could lead to reduced coinage. The availability of silver from the Comstock Lode was a key factor in determining the mint's operational capacity and the mintage numbers of the Carson City Morgan Silver Dollars, linking the fortunes of the mint closely with those of the silver mine.
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