1878-CC Seated 25 Cents CC Coin of the Week 6-20-10

There were 10,317,000 quarters minted at the Carson City Mint during its short life and like the dime, all of those were minted in the 9 year span, 1870 through 1878, except 1874. Mintages had been spotty up through 1873 and when it resumed in 1875, the output reached 140,000, the first time it broke 6 figures. In 1876 and 1877, by contrast, mintages topped 4,000,000 each year. When in 1878, Morgan Dollar production commenced, mintage back-peddled to 996,000 quarters. And mirroring dime production, the third highest mintage occurred this year.

There is a semi-cancelled variety of the 1878-CC quarter, which Rusty Goe remarks, has been mistaken for a scratch in the past. Specimens of this variety are owned by Maya Roberts and Michael Parrott and no doubt a few other unnamed C4OA members. Photos of the Parrott and Roberts specimens are in the Silver Non Morgan Dollar section.

Rusty Goe, in his epic, The Mint on Carson Street, estimates only 600 to 900 survive in all grades; only 300 to 400 of which are in mint state. Ownership of a specimen of any of the minor silver coins is a treasure to any Carson City Mint enthusiast.

Finest known is reported to be one NGC MS67. In January 2009, that coin sold at auction through Heritage for $13,800.

As an historical note, Pope Pius IX passed away in 1878 after a record 32 years as Pope and later was the subject of some very impressive Papal/ Cathedral Medals by master engraver Jacques Wiener.


And Happy Father's Day to all the fathers out there and all the fathers of members.

Great article Garryn

This is one of the more "available" Carson City coin dates in the seated quarter dollar series yet it's still a rare and valuable coin.

Thank you kindly for mentioning my 1878-CC quarter which is indeed the "semi-cancelled" die variety. I have included pictures of my example.

It is true that in the early days of coin grading, this special diagnostic was thought to be a scratch on the coin surface and many fine examples were down graded accordingly. Now...most graders know better.

Again, thank you for your contributing article on yet another great rarity from the Carson mint.

Michael the drummer

Mike, I did not know the reverse of your coin looked like that. What a beauty.

Superb coin. I am constantly on the search for the canceled die variety but have yet to find one. Beautiful reverse with the classic deep blue tone......Simply beautiful 'CC". Thanks Drummer!!!

Mark " Loosechange " Archambault

Thanks guys for the nice words about my coin. Some members might not like the toning...they refer to it as "poison on the coin"...however....like you obviously do, I appreciate the beauty of an aged coin showing beautiful colors. The reverse on my 1878-CC quarter is especially well toned in my humble opinion.

Michael the drummer

Mike, The electric blues just blow me away. It sure is a true beauty.

Mark