History of the 1878-CC Morgan Dollar
The 1878-CC is the first Morgan dollar from the fabled Carson City Mint, struck within miles of the Comstock Lode silver that filled its planchets. First-year status plus the CC mint mark make it one of the most popular entry points into Carson City collecting.
Thousands of uncirculated examples survived in Treasury vaults and were sold in the famous GSA sales of the 1970s, so mint-state coins are obtainable — original GSA-holdered examples carry their own following and premium.
The 1878-CC Morgan was struck in 1878, the first year of the series in 90% silver. Each coin weighs 26.73 grams. Production took place at Carson City (CC), with 2,212,000 struck.
How much is an 1878-CC Morgan worth?
Like every collectible coin, the value of an 1878-CC Morgan comes down to grade, rarity and demand. The ranges below are approximate retail prices collectors pay for problem-free examples — coins that have been cleaned, scratched or holed usually trade well below these figures.
For a live market check, recent sold listings beat out-of-date price guides every time.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.
- Very Good–Fine: $120–$160
- Extremely Fine: $180–$250
- MS-63: $400–$550
- MS-65: $1,300–$2,000
How to identify a genuine 1878-CC Morgan Dollar
Authentication starts with the basics: weight, diameter, design details and the way the surfaces look. For the 1878-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.
- The small CC mint mark sits below the wreath bow; spacing between the two Cs varies by die.
- GSA hard-pack holders with original box and certificate add value — do not crack them out.
- Counterfeits with added CC marks target all Carson City dollars; weight and mint mark style are the first checks.
Check your 1878-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.