1885-CC $1 MS DMPL

Key to Collecting: The 1885-CC exists by the hundreds of thousands of pieces, as more than half of the original mintage survived and was distributed in the late twentieth century. Most examples are brilliant, lustrous, and attractive to the eye. Ironically, the 1885-CC is the rarest of all Morgan dollars in circulated grades, eclipsing the 1889CC, 1893-S, and all other contenders (not counting the Proof-only 1895); but there are so many Mint State coins around that worn pieces are generally unappreciated.42

Surface Quality: Striking ranges from somewhat weak to very sharp, but most are above average. Most are well struck with brilliant, frosty luster.

Prooflike Coins: Some are struck from prooflike dies. DMPL coins with good cameo contrast exist and are highly sought.

Mintage and Distribution: Delivery figures by month: January, 100,000; February, 100,000; March–July, 0; August, 28,000; September–December, 0. Nearly all of the 1885-CC dollars were bagged and stored, not paid out, thereby creating a numismatic rarity. In later years bags were distributed from the Treasury Building in Washington, D.C., after which they remained available on the numismatic market. Many bags were paid out in the 1950’s in particular. After the great Treasury release was halted in March 1964, the General Services Administration holding of 1885-CC dollars totaled 148,285, or 65.03% of the original mintage, per a later inventory.43

Although 10 die pairs were made for this coinage, only four combinations have been described by VAM, none dramatic.