1880-CC Morgan Dollar

The 1880-CC Morgan Dollar was struck at the Carson City Mint in 1880 and is part of the Morgan Dollar series.

Specifications

 * Designer: George T. Morgan
 * Obverse Design: Lady Liberty
 * Reverse Design: Eagle holding arrows and olive branch
 * Edge: Reeded
 * Weight: 26.73 grams
 * Diameter: 38.1 millimeters
 * Composition: Silver (90%), Copper (10%)
 * Mintage: Circulation Strikes: est. 125,000 - Reverse of 1878
 * Mintage: Circulation Strikes: est. 466,000 - Reverse of 1879

Background
The 1880-CC Morgan is the third year the Carson City Mint produced silver dollars and, with relatively low mintage rates, these dollars are sought after and expensive.

Collecting
The 1880-CC exists in two major varieties, the Reverse of 1878 (with flat eagle's breast and parallel top arrow feather) and the more common Reverse of 1879. The Reverse of 1878 is far more rare and should be acquired by dedicated collectors. Finding choice examples of these coins is not difficult but one must separate those with too many contact marks.

The strike on these coins is generally good though one should look for strike detail on the hair of Miss Liberty and facial features. The eagle's feathers usually appear with good detail.

Prooflike coins for this year do exist but are rare. Their frosty appearance is sought after and one should keep an eye for availability.

Historical Background in 1880
on July 22nd, 1880, Abdur Rahman Khan becomes Emir of Afghanistan. The third son of Mohammad Afzal Khan, and grandson of Dost Mohammad Khan, Abdur Rahman Khan was considered a strong ruler who re-established the writ of the Afghan government in Kabul after the disarray that followed the second Anglo-Afghan war.

On October 6, 1880, the University of Southern California opens its doors to 53 students and 10 faculty. The University of Southern California (USC) is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university. USC's development has closely paralleled the growth of Los Angeles, and the university historically has educated a large number of the city's business leaders and professionals. In recent decades, the university has also leveraged its location in Los Angeles to establish relationships with research institutions throughout Asia and the Pacific Rim. Reflecting the status of Los Angeles as a global city, USC has the largest number of international students of any university in the United States.

On October 15, 1880, Mexican soldiers kill Victorio, one of the greatest Apache military strategists. Victorio was a warrior and chief of the Chihenne band of the Chiricahua Apaches in what is now the American states of New Mexico, Arizona, Texas and the Mexican states of Sonora and Chihuahua.

Die Varieties
The 1880-CC exists in two major varieties, the Reverse of 1878 (with flat eagle's breast and parallel top arrow feather) and the more common Reverse of 1879. VAM-5 and 6 varieties, High and Low 7 overdate varieties, are popular.


 * VAM-1 Slanted Arrow Feathers, Large CC - (Does not exist)
 * VAM-2 Parallel Arrow Feathers, Small CC - (Does not exist)
 * VAM-3 Dash Under 8
 * VAM-3A Dash Under 8, Clashed Obverse n, Breaks Left Wreath
 * VAM-4 80/79, Reverse of 78 Overdate (Top 100 Morgan Vam)
 * VAM-5 8/7 High Overdate, Doubled 88 (Top 100 Morgan Vam)
 * VAM-6 8/7 Low Overdate (Top 100 Morgan Vam)
 * VAM-7 8/7 Dash, Reverse of 78 Overdate
 * VAM-7A 8/7 Dash, Clashed Obverse n, Reverse of 78 Overdate
 * VAM-8 8/7 Dash
 * VAM-9 8/7 Dash
 * VAM-9A 8/7 Dash *NEW*
 * VAM-10 8/7 Dash and Doubled 88

1880-CC Reverse of 78

 * VAM-2 Parallel Arrow Feathers, Small CC - (Does not exist)
 * VAM-4 80/79, Reverse of 78 Overdate (Top 100 Morgan Vam)
 * VAM-7 8/7 Dash, Reverse of 78 Overdate
 * VAM-7A 8/7 Dash, Clashed Obverse n, Reverse of 78 Overdate