1885-CC $1 Morgan Silver Dollar GSA Hoard Uncirculated PCGS MS65

The Morgan Silver Dollar is America’s most collected vintage coin, originally struck by the United States Mint from 1878 to 1904, and once more in 1921. Named after its designer, Assistant Engraver George T. Morgan, this iconic $1 coin is highly prized by both collectors and investors for its historical connection to the American Wild West, its beautiful Gilded Age design, and its high precious metal content. In 2021, the United States Mint revived the design as a modern annual collectible series.

Key Coin Specifications

• Composition: 90% silver, 10% copper (vintage issues).
• Pure Silver Content: 0.7734 troy ounces.
• Diameter: 38.1 mm.
• Weight: 26.73 grams.

Mint Marks and Mints

Morgan Dollars were struck at five different U.S. Mints. You can identify where your coin was struck by looking at the reverse (tails) side, just above the "DO" in "DOLLAR" and beneath the ribbon wreath: 

• No Mint Mark: Philadelphia Mint (P)
• CC: Carson City Mint (highly coveted by collectors due to lower production rates)
• S: San Francisco Mint
• O: New Orleans Mint
• D: Denver Mint (Struck only in 1921) 

Mint Marks: Found on the reverse side below the wreath; includes CC (Carson City), S (San Francisco), O (New Orleans), D (Denver), and no mark (Philadelphia). 

Key Dates and Collecting Rarities

While hundreds of millions of Morgan Dollars were minted, massive government silver melts mean that fewer than 15% are estimated to survive today. Rarity and value are dictated strictly by the year, mint mark, and condition: 

• 1893-S: The undisputed king of circulation Morgan dollars, featuring a tiny mintage of only 100,000 coins.
• 1889-CC: The rarest and most coveted issue from the famous Carson City Mint.
• 1895 Philadelphia: Known as the "King of Morgans" because while 12,000 business strikes were recorded, only 880 proof versions are known to exist today. 

• Other Major Keys: 1884-S, 1892-S, 1894-P, and 1895-O. 
• 1921: The most common and affordable year for beginners, as it was heavily produced right before the design was retired for the Peace Dollar.

Modern Re-issues

Because of the coin's enduring legacy, the U.S. Mint permanently revived the program in 2021 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the original transition to the Peace Dollar. Unlike the vintage 90% alloy coins, these modern collectible variants are minted in 99.9% fine silver. They are released annually in uncirculated, proof, and reverse proof finishes for modern collectors.