1883-CC Morgan $1 Coin of the Week 3-7-10

1883 was a big year in New York City. Did you know that the Brooklyn Bridge opened after 13 years of construction on May 24? 30 workers died during construction. The initial toll across the bridge was one cent on opening day and 3 cents thereafter. Irish workers staged a protest on Opening Day because the date coincided with Queen Victoria's birthday!

There was a bridge of sorts in coin production in 1883. The nickel changes design from the Shield design to the Liberty design. 1883 also marked the last year of mintage for the Trade Dollar, in 1884 and 1885 only proof issues would be struck.

In Carson City, the ever popular James Crawford was Superintendent, coming to the end of his tenure in less than two years. Silver Dollars were the only silver coins struck in 1883, accounting for $1.204M, nearly half of the $2.588M in face value produced that year.

Thanks to the 755,518 distributed for $30 each in the GSA sales, uncirculated examples are plentiful. It joins the '82-CC and '84-CC as the most available Carson City Dollar in mint state. 1883-CC dollars are usually well struck, many with prooflike fields.

Here is an interesting 1883-CC from the Naples Collection. I assume that Naples refers to Naples, Florida. That is my last name, but the collection has nothing to do with my family unfortunately... Has anyone run across silver dollars from that collection?

My '83-CC is a PCGS MS-64. Well struck. Very lustrous. Not prooflike. There is a russet toning spot right if the U in Pluribus. One of these days I need to upgrade it.

Hi Garryn

Great post there Garry!

Michael the drummer

GN,

Very interesting post and a gorgeous coin! Thinking back, the bridge toll could have been paid in several different ways.

- Three Indian Head cents.

- One copper Two Cent piece and an Indian cent, though this
is less likely since the Two Cent piece had not been produced
since 1873.

- One silver Three Cent piece (Trime), though again less
likely since this coin's production was also halted in 1873.

- One nickel Three Cent piece, much more likely since all of
these coins were produced at the Philadelphia mint through 1889.

I have seen several coins with the Naples Collection pedigree, though not always Carson City minted coins. Perhaps the Naples Collection was a type collection? I would guess that Rusty knows who the collector was.

Thanks for another great article Garryn!

Belay Off

Super article GarryN. Wow it doesn't get any better than this. Go "CC"'s.

Mark "LooseChange" Archambault
RM#0335

Thanks guys! A dealer named Mike Casper had a bunch of the Naples dollars. Here is another that is pedigreed to the late Jack Lee. Same grade. I only have obverse shots of both coins.

How about some color?




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