1889-CC Morgan Silver Dollar. MS-61 (PCGS). OGH. An exceptional example of one of the most eagerly sought issues in the ever-popular Morgan dollar series. Frosty surfaces exhibit razor sharp striking detail throughout the design. Both sides are generally untoned, with just a few blushes of pale champagne-gold iridescence. Impressively smooth for both the issue and the assigned grade, and just right for a top flight Morgan dollar set or collection of CC-Mint coinage.<p>The 1889-CC is the first Carson City Mint Morgan dollar struck since 1885. The Nevada branch mint was closed throughout the intervening years during the first presidency of Grover Cleveland, who backed the gold standard and opposed the free coinage of silver. As the Carson City Mint had come into existence principally to process the large quantities of silver being mined from the nearby Comstock Lode, Clevelands political positions made the continued operations of the facility unlikely.<p>Cleveland was defeated in his initial re-election bid in 1888, however, paving the way for the reopening of the Carson City Mint the following year. Coinage operations resumed fairly late in 1889, however, giving the facility enough time to strike only 350,000 Morgan silver dollars. Although other CC-Mint Morgans have lower mintages, the 1889-CC was saved in far fewer numbers and ranks as the rarest Carson City Mint issue of the type.
