1889-CC Morgan Dollar

Specifications

Melt value: $49.85silver $64.40/ozt, copper $0.44/ozt · prices as of Sep 16, 2026

AI-generated illustration — not a photograph of a genuine coin.

350,000 struck at Carson City — the key to the Carson City Morgan dollar set.

History

The 1889-CC Morgan Dollar was struck at the Carson City Mint, which had produced Morgan dollars from 1878 to 1885, paused all coinage from 1886 to 1888, and resumed in 1889 with the Morgan dollar as the only coin to return to production (JM Bullion).
Just 350,000 were struck, coined from October through December 1889 at 100,000 per month in October and November and 150,000 in December (APMEX; Greysheet).
The issue is the key to the Carson City Morgan dollar set, trailing only the 1893-S among all Morgan dollars in rarity and demand (Heritage Auctions).
Most survivors are circulated and Mint State examples are scarce, as many of the 350,000 entered commerce or were later melted (Heritage Auctions).
The coin is George T. Morgan’s standard silver dollar design — Liberty on the obverse, heraldic eagle on the reverse — struck in 90% silver and 10% copper at 26.73 g and 38.1 mm with a reeded edge (Greysheet; Wikipedia). The ‘CC’ mintmark appears on the reverse above the ‘DO’ of ‘Dollar’ (Wikipedia; Greysheet).

1889-CC (Carson City, 350,000) — the key to the Carson City Morgan dollar set; trails only the 1893-S (Heritage Auctions; Greysheet).
1893-S — the series key with the lowest mintage of any Morgan dollar, the one issue that outranks the 1889-CC (Wikipedia).

No published diagnostics found in consulted references — certification recommended
Struck October–December 1889 (100,000 in October, 100,000 in November, 150,000 in December) after Carson City resumed silver dollar production following its 1886–1888 pause (APMEX; JM Bullion).