1885-CC MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR
NGC GSA MS 64
The 1855-CC is a semi-key date in the Morgan series. It had a very low mintage and was the last Morgan issue struck just before the Carson City Mint shut down for 4 years. The Carson City Mint was closed to coinage in November 1885, by which time only 228,000 1885-CC dollars had been struck. This was the last year Carson City Branch Mint produced coins until Morgan Dollar production resumed in 1889. Compared to the millions of coins minted at the other mint branches that year, the Carson City production was considered tiny. The appeal of CC mintmark and demand for Carson City Morgan dollars is greater than any other single minted coin. Carson City dollars will have significantly higher value of coins with equal rarity minted at the Philadelphia, New Orleans, or San Francisco Mints. Due to this small mintage, the 1885-CC is one of the semi-keys of the Morgan series. Luckily, some 65% of the entire mintage survived in the Treasury vaults until the GSA sales of the late 1970's and early 1980's. This has made the 1885-CC much more obtainable today, but it still commands a large premium over more common dates.In November 1962, collectors were delighted when a great Treasury Hoard of Morgan silver dollars was revealed, when long-sealed federal vaults were opened during a government accounting. The forgotten hoard had been hidden away for many decades, and included around 3,000 mint bags containing 1,000 Carson City Morgan dollars each, resulting in over 2.9 million coins with the coveted CC mintmark including this 1885-CC. After the discovery a plan was made to liquidate the surviving coins. In 1970, Congress authorized the General Services Administration (GSA) to sell the coins, sealed in special GSA holders, through a mail bid auction. Seven GSA sales over 8 years, grossed around $100 million by the conclusion in 1980. The GSA hoard included 130,823 Uncirculated 1885-CC Morgan dollars.
Morgan Silver Dollars are America's most collected coin, with a rich history that was born out of the old Wild West. These big, beautiful silver dollars conjure up images of cowboys and salon poker games, outlaws and stage coach robberies, casino slot machines and honkytonks of the past. Born out of the rich silver mines of Nevada that turned small mining camps into large bustling cities full of promise and entrepreneurial enterprise. Today, Morgan Dollars are among the most colorful and treasured relics of the old American West. Morgan dollars were minted from 1878 to 1904, and once again in 1921 before retiring as America's most popular coin.
The year 1885 in America saw the Statue of Liberty arrive in New York harbor and the Washington Monument is dedicated, in Washington, D.C. at a height of 555 feet. The Salvation Army is officially organized, and American Telephone and Telegraph (ATT) is incorporated in New York City. Good Housekeeping magazine goes on sale for the first time and special delivery mail service begins in United States. The Carson City Mint closes after minting this last issue of the 1885-CC Morgan Silver Dollar. This 1885-CC Morgan will be a centerpiece in any collection.
