History of the 1889-CC Morgan Dollar
The 1889-CC is the rarest Carson City Morgan and one of the "big three" keys of the entire series. The Carson City Mint had just reopened after a four-year suspension, struck only 350,000 dollars, and most were released into circulation or later melted — almost none sat in the Treasury hoards that preserved other CC dates.
Only one example appeared in the entire GSA sale of nearly three million CC dollars. In mint state the 1889-CC is a five-figure coin, and even heavily worn examples cost more than gem examples of common dates.
The 1889-CC Morgan was struck in 1889 in 90% silver. Each coin weighs 26.73 grams. Production took place at Carson City (CC), with 350,000 struck.
How much is an 1889-CC Morgan worth?
Prices for the 1889-CC Morgan move with the collector market and with the price of precious metals. Use the ranges below as a starting point for problem-free examples, not as a guarantee.
For a live market check, recent sold listings beat out-of-date price guides every time. CoinVault Pro combines Numista catalog data with real eBay sold prices for every coin it recognizes, so you can see what buyers are actually paying this month — not what a book claimed years ago.
- Good (G-4): $700–$1,000
- Fine (F-12): $1,500–$2,200
- Extremely Fine (XF-40): $4,500–$7,000
- MS-63: $30,000–$45,000
How to identify a genuine 1889-CC Morgan Dollar
Authentication starts with the basics: weight, diameter, design details and the way the surfaces look. For the 1889-CC Morgan, check the following:
If anything feels off — the weight is wrong, the details are mushy, or the surfaces look cast rather than struck — get a second opinion before buying or selling. Valuable dates are exactly the coins counterfeiters target most.
- This is the most dangerous Morgan to buy raw — added CC marks on 1889-P coins are rampant.
- Genuine CC mint mark position and serif shapes are precisely documented; compare under magnification.
- Certification by PCGS or NGC is effectively mandatory at every grade level.
Check your 1889-CC Morgan with CoinVault Pro
Instead of squinting at grainy auction photos, snap a picture with CoinVault Pro. Gemini AI and Coin-CLIP image matching identify the exact type, the app estimates a Sheldon-scale grade from 1 to 70, and you get live values sourced from the Numista catalog and real eBay sold listings.
From there you can add the coin to your collection, track its value over time, put upgrades on your wishlist, or list it on the in-app marketplace with escrow protection. The app is free to download on iOS and Android.