1881-CC Morgan $1 GSA CACG MS63

Introduction

The 1881-CC Morgan Silver Dollar is one of the most celebrated issues in the entire Morgan Dollar series, prized for its exceptional quality and connection to the historic Carson City Mint. This example, graded MS63 by CACG and housed in its original General Services Administration (GSA) holder, displays bright, frosty luster and crisp strike detail. With the coveted CAC verification for superior quality, it represents both an outstanding investment-grade coin and an enduring symbol of the American West.

History

Struck at the Carson City Mint in Nevada, the 1881-CC Morgan Dollar was produced during a period of declining silver demand, resulting in one of the smallest mintages of the Carson City series. Only 296,000 pieces were struck, a fraction compared to millions from other mints that year.

Most 1881-CC dollars remained untouched in Treasury vaults until the early 1970s, when they were discovered and released through the GSA sales—a program that offered these long-hidden Carson City treasures to the public. Today, GSA-certified examples remain highly collectible due to their authenticity, pristine preservation, and direct link to this historic government release.

Design

Designed by George T. Morgan, the obverse features the classic portrait of Liberty wearing a Phrygian cap adorned with cotton and wheat—symbols of America’s agricultural heritage. The reverse showcases a majestic eagle with outstretched wings clutching arrows and an olive branch, framed by the motto IN GOD WE TRUST.

The coin’s “CC” mint mark below the wreath is a hallmark of Carson City coinage, instantly recognizable and deeply desired among collectors. This CACG MS63 specimen exhibits brilliant silver surfaces, sharp design definition, and excellent overall eye appeal—hallmarks of a well-preserved GSA dollar and a true piece of Western numismatic history.