1879-CC Morgan Silver Dollar. Clear CC. MS-64+ (NGC). CMQ.One of several premium quality Mint State Morgan dollars that we are offering in this sale, this NGC-certified beauty for the 1879-CC delivers sharp striking detail and intense mint luster. The finish is generally frosty in texture, although we do note traces of semi-prooflike reflectivity in the fields. Brilliant, beautiful, and on the cusp of full Gem Uncirculated quality.<p>After a promising start with 2,212,000 coins struck in 1878, Morgan dollar production at the Carson City Mint fell off markedly in 1879, when only 756,000 pieces were produced. Mintages would continue to fall through 1881. Despite its proximity to Nevadas rich silver mines, the Carson City Mint was forced to play second fiddle as much of the bullion mined was sent instead to the more distant San Francisco Mint for coinage. There was so little bullion on hand at the Carson City Mint throughout 1879, in fact, the presses were still for much of the year. In our August 2013 sale of the Battle Born Collection, Rusty Goe reported that Superintendent Crawford received orders from his superiors in Washington, D.C. to cease coinage operations in April and lay off workers. The presses in Carson City remained idle until August, after which only 210,000 additional silver dollars were struck before the end of 1879 which when added to the 546,000 coins struck earlier amounted to just 756,000 coins for the year.<p>With a far smaller percentage of the mintage represented in the various GSA sales of the 1970s, the 1879-CC is rarer than the lower mintage 1880-CC, 1881-CC and 1885-CC in Mint State. This issue, in fact, is the rarest Carson City Mint Morgan dollar of the 1878 to 1885 era. Particularly scarce above the basal MS-64 level, we anticipate strong interest in this significant offering.PCGS# 7086. NGC ID: 253T.
