#35 • 1878 Silver Morgan Dollar Carson City

Part of Gold and Silver Showcase (live auction by Blue Box Auction Gallery)

High bid $260.00

Status: Sold

Estimated Value: $300-600 Origin: United States Denomination: One Dollar Year: 1878 Mint: Carson City Grade/Condition: Estimated: MS Metal: Silver Weight (+/- 0.2g): Estimated: 26.7 Grams Additional Description: The 1878 Carson City Morgan Silver Dollar holds a special place in American numismatics as both the first year of the Morgan series and one of the earliest silver dollars struck at the historic Carson City Mint. Bearing the distinctive “CC” mint mark beneath the eagle on the reverse, this coin is part of a limited production run of just 2,212,000 pieces, modest by comparison to other mint outputs that year. Designed by George T. Morgan, the obverse features a left-facing portrait of Liberty with classical features rooted in American identity. The reverse shows a robust eagle clutching arrows and an olive branch, framed by the inscriptions “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “ONE DOLLAR.” Like other 1878 Morgans, the Carson City issue is known for several die varieties, most notably the 8 Tail Feathers and 7 Tail Feathers types, reflecting adjustments made to the eagle's anatomy early in the series. Struck in 90% silver and 10% copper, the coin was produced under the mandate of the Bland-Allison Act, a response to political pressure to remonetize silver. The Carson City Mint, operating in Nevada from 1870 to 1893, served primarily to process silver from nearby Comstock Lode mines, making CC-marked coins historically tied to the American West’s mining era.