1889-CC Morgan Silver Dollar. MS-61 (NGC).This lovely example offers sharp to full striking detail over even the most intricate design elements. The devices exhibit a soft satin texture that contrasts modestly with semi-reflective fields. Both sides are virtually brilliant and the surfaces are exceptionally smooth for a Carson City Mint silver dollar at this grade level. A premium quality MS-61 that is worthy of a strong bid.Although other Carson City silver dollar dates have lower mintages (the 1881-CC and 1885-CC, for example), the title of rarest Carson City Mint Morgan dollar has long been held by the 1889-CC. Of the 350,000 pieces struck, only limited quantities emerged from government holdings during the first half of the 20th century, mostly from storage in the San Francisco Mint and/or Treasury stock. In fact, when the government suspended payouts of silver dollars in March 1964, only a single example of the 1889-CC remained to be dispersed through the GSA sales of the 1970s. Since few examples of the 1889-CC seem to have entered circulation at or near the time of issue, both worn and Mint State survivors are elusive in numismatic circles. It is highly likely, therefore, that most 1889-CC silver dollars were included among the 270,232,722 silver dollars melted under the terms of the 1918 Pittman Act. A find at all levels of preservation, especially Mint State, as here, the present lot will certainly draw plenty of attention from Carson City Mint and Morgan dollar enthusiasts alike.From the Claudia St John Collection.
