1878-CC Morgan $1 CC Coin of the Week 1-31-2010

As has been previously stated by fellow member Randy C, 1878 saw a change in design for the silver dollar. Gone was the Seated Liberty design and in was the George T. Morgan design featuring who some believe is Miss Anna Willess Williams, an unlikely 19 year old celebrity who became a kindergarten teacher and writer. According to Leroy Van Allen, Miss Williams spent the rest of her 66 years avoiding all the curiosity seekers who believed she was the model for Miss Liberty.

Quantities dwindled at Carson City for all denominations in 1878 except for the silver dollar, which accounted for nearly 75% of the $2,950,310 in face value coined that year. When the clock turned to 1879, gone from the Carson City Mint were the dime, quarter, half dollar and Trade Dollar, never to be coined there again.

All 1878-CC dollars feature the flat breasted eagle. This design caused some weak strikes on the reverse. Two reverse varieties are very interesting. The VAM 3 and VAM 6 both exhibit mintmarks set high and right so that the right "C" touches the wreath. Perhaps the technician forgot that there were two mint marks and punched the first too close to the center of the wreath. Who made that sour mash at lunch comment? :laugh:

Uncirculated specimens are plentiful and relatively inexpensive. Some 100,000 to 125,000 uncirculated specimens are estimated to survive. About 61,000 of those were released in the GSA sales. 1878-CC dollars in GSA holders command a moderate premium, compared to the '82, '83 and '84.

I happen to have an 1878-CC in a PCGS 63 holder. It is slightly prooflike. Obtained in 1997, It is the first CC dollar I ever purchased. As it turned out, it is the VAM 18 doubled die obverse. I am still looking for a VAM 3 or 6.

Hi Garryn

You have provided us with a nice post of your 1878-CC Morgan silver dollar C.O.W.

I am including a picture of my 1878-CC Morgan that I bought from Rusty a few years ago. I'm not sure what VAM variety it is...how do I tell which is which?

Happy collecting!

Michael the drummer:woohoo:

Here's a picture of my 1878-CC Morgan silver dollar

from Michael the drummer

PCGS MS-64

Thanks Mike, I realized it was my turn at 10 pm Sunday night. :blink: :woohoo: I may add to it later. Go to Vamworld.com

www.vamworld.com/Morgan+VAMs+By+Date

Select the 1878-CC and you will see a list of varieties. You basically have to look at the pictures provided for each one and compare to your coin.

Hi Garryn

Many thanks for your info regarding the vamworld.com site.

Thanks to your help, and through that site, I've definitely determined that my 1878-CC Morgan dollar (PCGS MS-64) as shown in the picture I provided, is a;

VAM-9 "CC" Tilted Right (revised 2007) II 3 - B2c

Obverse II 3 - Point broken off star 4 on right

Reverse B2c - Normal die of type B2 with widely spaced
mintmarks set high and slanted right.
Some specimens show (as mine does) die chips around
WE TR and a heavy long polishing line from right top
of O in ONE.

Again, thank you for providing me with this "VAM" site.

Michael the drummer

Great work, Mike! That is what I love about coins and Morgan Dollars in particular. You could have a handful of 1878-CC dollars, or any date and they all could be different. The page also says Condition Census is PCGS MS64. You have one of the finest known of that variety...