Silver Dollars & Trade Dollars of the United States - A Complete Encyclopedia
Q. David Bowers
1883-CC Morgan: Market Values
1883-CC Morgan: Summary of Characteristics
Business Strikes:
Enabling legislation: As earlier, plus Act of February 28, 1878
Designer: George T. Morgan
Weight and composition: 412.5 grains; .900 silver, .100 copper
Melt-down (silver value) in year minted: $0.85754
Dies prepared: Obverse: 10; Reverse: 10
Business strike mintage: 1,204,000
Specimens sent to the Assay Commission: 70
Estimated quantity melted: Very few; probably 100,000 or so at best.
Approximate population MS-65 or better: 35,000 to 45,000 (URS-17)
Approximate population MS-64:110,000 to 125,000 (URS-18)
Approximate population MS-63: 250,000 to 300,000 (URS-20)
Approximate population MS-60 to 62: 500,000 to 550,000 (URS-21)
Approximate population G-4 to AU-58: 12,500 to 25,000 (URS-15)
Availability of prooflike coins: Prooflike coins are readily available, and even DMPL coins are seen with some frequency. The most common Carson City dollar with these finishes.
Characteristics of striking: Most are well struck, although some other specimens have the eagle's breast feathers lightly defined.
Known hoards of Mint State coins: Bags of 1,000 pieces were released in 1938, in the mid-1950s, and early during the mass distribution of the early 1960s; 755,518 were held back from 1962- 1964 Treasury release and subsequently sold by the General Services Administration
Proofs:
None
Commentary
This is the second most available Carson City Morgan dollar in higher Mint State grades.
Additional Information
Affairs at Carson City
The Annual Report of the Director of the Mint, 1883, told of affairs at Carson City during the past fiscal year:
"This Mint continued in operation during the entire year. The receipts of gold and silver having increased about 35% over those of the previous year. There was also an increase in the Coinage from $1,546,310 and $2,523,945 [value in these metals].
"This institution is of advantage to the miners and mine owners in that portion of Nevada where it is located, in affording a local market for their silver production, as well as convenient means of obtaining the value of their gold bullion in coin or bars."