1880-CC Morgan $1 CC Coin of the Week -11-23-2009

1880-CC Morgan Silver Dollar

While researching the year 1880, I came across the 1880 census report which had a couple pages on mining of precious metals and included detailed information about the Carson City Mint building and operations. I would like to include more of that information in a future article in Curry's Chronicle and some excerpts here.

The Carson City mint had been in operation for one decade. There were still improvements that could be made and these were enumerated in the 1880 census. These were: "1. A reverberatory cupel furnace for treating bullion containing a large proportion of lead. The report said the mint is carrying over each year bars that cannot be profitably refined by the sulfuric acid process. An assay determined that one particular bar, number 92, cast in 1879 contained gold .021, silver.535 and lead .444. 2. dust chambers or condensing flues connected to the main stack. The loss of precious metal could be further reduced by these means. 3. Improved sulfuric acid condensers." More on this report in an upcoming Curry’s Chronicle.

Mintages were up in 1879, other than at Carson City. There, mintages of silver dollars dropped from 2.2MM in 1878 to 756,000 in 1879. Less in 1880: 591,000. Inexplicably, a number of dies at all the mints were reused in 1880, the numeral 79 obliterated and replaced with 80. In order to accomplish this, an order had to have come down from the Mint Director. If such a document exists, it would be quite a thing to see. Eight of the ten known die combinations for 1880-CC include a different variety of an 8/7 overdate. Quite amazing for such a low mintage.

While many dies were reused, nowhere are the remnants of the prior 79 digits more visible than on Carson City dollars of 1880. This is unexpected. Carson City dollars in general are known to be well struck; dies well prepared. For some reason that was not the case when the 1879 dies were reworked. The 1880/79-CC, Reverse 1879 and the 1880-CC 8 over High 7 and 1880-CC 8 over Low 7 are quite spectacular to see especially in mint state grades. Their lapse in attention is our benefit today. These are my examples. Both the High 7 and Low 7 are in GSA holders, graded NGC 63. The 80/79-CC is PCGS 62. The photos were taken with a QX-3 at 20x. My 1880/79 dollar is one of my favorites. It is almost like having a mint state 1879-CC and 1880-CC all in one coin. :laugh: :laugh:

Every reference states that "Normal reverse dies do not exist", which
means that every coin is a variety?

The coin on the left does not have any variety assigned, the eagle has
a normal breast. What is it?

The coin on the right has a 1878 reverse and the eagle has a flat breast.

Also,the arrow feathers are located differently on these two coins.

Three reverses, ten or more dies, what a complicated situation.

Which variety is the best to collect?

John Armonas

I am going out on a limb here, without consulting my "Big Book" The coin on the left with the rounded breast is the Reverse of 1879. I believe that is the most common reverse in 1880. The Reverse of 1878 would probably be the least common of the two. But I believe there is a third reverse that was used during that year, another Reverse of 1879. I dont know where that falls into the list. Maybe someone else can help? Your coin on the left shows some interesting die clashing on the left side of the right wreath and also at the top of the eagle's right wing, (viewer's left). Check the juncture of the neck and chin on the obverse. Might be some clashing there too. I can't determine what variety the coin is at that distance.

Looks like the eagle's wing is broken about 1/3 down from the tip.
Also, I see a thin line protruding from the eagle's head (up), another line goes up from the wing towards N in "In God We Trust".

John Armonas

I dont see the broken wing on that pic, but the other two are clash marks. Very interesting.

Hi Garryn

Very nice close-up photo work on this special "CC" Morgan $1 over-date.

Michael the drummer