Numismatic

1881-CC Morgan Dollar MS-64 PCGS

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The 1881 Morgan silver dollar minted in Carson City represents a fascinating chapter in American coining history. During this specific year, the Nevada-based facility operated for only a brief window of time, ultimately producing a mere 296,000 of these silver pieces. Over its entire sixteen year operational lifespan, the Carson City Mint was responsible for producing just two percent of the total run of Morgan dollars, making its issues highly sought after by those who appreciate rare minting origins. Designed by George T. Morgan, the coin features a left-facing profile of Lady Liberty on the obverse, adorned with a Phrygian cap and a wreath, encircled by thirteen stars, the year 1881, and the Latin motto E PLURIBUS UNUM. The reverse depicts a bald eagle with its wings spread wide, clutching arrows and an olive branch. Surrounding the eagle are the inscriptions IN GOD WE TRUST, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, and the denomination, ONE DOLLAR. Each coin was struck with a diameter of 38.1 mm and a thickness of 3.1 mm, containing 0.7734 troy ounces of pure silver within its ninety percent silver composition. Many of these Carson City dollars escaped the massive melting pot authorized by the Pittman Act of 1918 because they were stored securely inside Treasury Department vaults. Decades later, during the 1970s and 1980s, these historic coins were finally released to the public through the General Services Administration (GSA) sales. This particular specimen has been certified in Mint State 64 (MS-64), preserving the crisp details of its design and the famous CC mint mark.