#90 • 1885 Silver Morgan Dollar Carson City

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

High bid $250.00

Status: Sold

Estimated Value: $500-700 Origin: United States Denomination: One Dollar Year: 1885 Mint: Carson City Grade/Condition: Estimated: VG Metal: Silver Weight (+/- 0.2g): 26.0 Grams Additional Description: The 1885 Morgan Silver Dollar from the Carson City Mint is one of the most sought-after issues in the entire Morgan Dollar series. With a mintage of just 228,000, it marks the final year of production for Morgan Dollars at the historic Nevada facility and stands as one of the lowest regular-issue mintages of the entire series. Bearing the “CC” mint mark beneath the wreath on the reverse, the coin is a tangible link to the frontier-era Carson City Mint, which operated intermittently from 1870 to 1893. Struck near the heart of the Comstock Lode, this issue reflects both the wealth of the American West and the challenges of minting in a remote and often politically embattled location. Despite its low mintage, many 1885-CC dollars were never released into circulation. Instead, they were stored in federal vaults and remained untouched for decades until they were rediscovered and sold through the General Services Administration (GSA) sales in the 1970s. George T. Morgan’s design is featured prominently, with Liberty in classical profile on the obverse and a spread-winged eagle on the reverse, clutching arrows and an olive branch. The coin, like all Morgans, is composed of 90% silver and 10% copper.