Condition & Details

This 1883-CC Morgan Silver Dollar presents as a heavily circulated example that saw considerable time in commerce during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The coin exhibits visible scratches across the obverse field, consistent with extended use and handling over its long life. Despite the wear, all major design elements remain clearly discernible on both the obverse and reverse.

On the obverse, Liberty's portrait retains recognizable detail in the hair strands above the ear and across the cap, though the higher-relief areas show expected flattening from circulation. The stars, date, and motto are fully legible. On the reverse, the eagle's breast feathers show moderate wear, but the wing tips, tail feathers, and wreath details remain well-defined. The "CC" mint mark beneath the wreath is clear and unmistakable.

Importantly, this coin displays honest, original surfaces — there is no evidence of cleaning, artificial toning, tooling, or other post-mint alteration. The surfaces carry a natural, gently toned patina befitting a coin of this age and circulation history. This is a raw, unslabbed coin offered exactly as described. Please examine the photographs carefully, as they are considered part of this description.

Coin History & Background

The Morgan Silver Dollar was designed by George T. Morgan, a talented British-born engraver who joined the United States Mint in 1876. Morgan's iconic design features a left-facing portrait of Lady Liberty on the obverse, modeled after Philadelphia schoolteacher Anna Willess Williams, whose classical profile Morgan considered ideal for the task. The reverse showcases a heraldic bald eagle with outstretched wings clutching an olive branch and arrows, encircled by a laurel wreath. First struck in 1878 under the provisions of the Bland-Allison Act — which mandated the U.S. Treasury purchase millions of dollars' worth of silver each month — the Morgan Dollar became one of the most prolific and beloved coin series in American history, produced through 1904 and again for a final year in 1921.

The "CC" mint mark on this coin identifies it as a product of the Carson City Mint in Nevada, arguably the most romanticized branch mint in American numismatic history. Established in 1870 to process the enormous silver deposits being extracted from the legendary Comstock Lode, the Carson City Mint was a relatively small operation compared to its counterparts in Philadelphia, San Francisco, and New Orleans. Its output was correspondingly modest, and the mint operated intermittently before closing permanently in 1893. This limited production window means that every coin bearing the "CC" mint mark carries a special cachet with collectors — a tangible connection to the Wild West, the great Nevada silver strikes, and a chapter of American frontier history that captivates the imagination.

Carson City Morgan Dollars are universally sought after by collectors at every level. The 1883-CC represents one of the later issues from this storied facility, struck during a period when significant quantities were produced but then stored in Treasury vaults for decades. While large numbers of uncirculated 1883-CC Morgans were eventually dispersed through the famous General Services Administration (GSA) sales of the 1970s and 1980s, circulated examples like this one tell a different story — these are coins that actually entered commerce, served their intended purpose, and survived the melting pots that claimed millions of their siblings. For collectors seeking a genuine Carson City Morgan Dollar with authentic character and original surfaces, a circulated example offers outstanding value and historical appeal.

Mintage Data