1889-CC Silver Dollar  - 1889-CC $1 PCGS VF30 CAC. This lightly toned 1889-CC Morgan dollar has extremely clean fields with just a touch of darker toning around the devices. The coin is so clean that only with magnification can any light and insignificant abrasion marks be seen. In addition the surfaces are clearly original. About two-thirds of Libertys hairlines show very plainly, and her ear is well defined.  The grade is confirmed by the CAC sticker indicating that the coin is a premium quality piece and fully deserves the grade assigned.

Authorized in 1863, the Carson City Mint began coinage in 1870 and continued until 1893. It was then operated as a government assay office until 1933 when it was closed as a cost cutting measure. During its operation it made fifty-seven different types of gold coins. It also converted gold bullion and oar into gold bars, which were shipped to San Francisco for coinage there. Coins issued from the Carson City used the CC mint mark. Originally established to convert silver from the Comstock Lode to coinage, the Carson City Mint also processed gold in to gold coins.
When first discovered, gold and silver found in Nevada had to be shipped over the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the branch mint in San Francisco.

This trip was dangerous and expensive. The Nevada mine owners asked Congress to establish a branch of the mint in their state, and legislation was enacted in 1863. Carson City was chosen as the location for the mint facility because it was near some of the major mining sites.

In 1884 Democrat Grover Cleveland became president. He fired all the Republican appointees including the top officials at the Carson City Mint and shut it down. A year later it reopened as an assay office. When Republican Benjamin Harrison became president, he fired Clevelands appointees and replaced them with Republicans. In 1889 coining operations resumed.

The 1889-CC dollar is the rarest of the Carson City Morgan dollars. In its population report, as of February 2013, CAC has confirmed 21 in VF30 condition.