Carson City Morgan Silver Dollars

The other day I had a chance to examine an 1884 Morgan Silver Dollar.

It was sealed within a GSA (General Services Administration) slab that measured 3 3/8 inches by 5 3/8 inches by 5/16 inch.

The coin was nested in the center of a black frame (to keep it from sloshing around in its slab) and the words "Carson City" and "Uncirculated Silver Dollar" were printed in silver letters above and below the coin, respectively. That lettering appeared to have been printed in reverse on the inside face of the front part of the clear plastic case... thereby protecting the letters and orienting the letters properly for people who are holding the slab and looking at the obverse (face side) of the coin.

When I looked at the reverse side of the coin it was clear, upon close examination, that the frame (holding the coin in place) had three little tabs that kept the coin slightly raised from the inside surface of the transparent back slab plate.

A certificate of authenticity accompanied the slabbed coin and it read:

The Carson City

Silver Dollars

C

C

This historic coin is a valuable memento of an era in

American history when pioneers were challenging the

West. The silver in this dollar was mined from the rich

Comstock Lode, discovered in the mountains near

Carson City, Nevada. The Carson City Mint was es-

tablished there in 1870, and although it was in exist-

ence for a mere 24 years, it produced many coins

which have endured as collectors' items, among them

the 13 piece Morgan dollar series of 1878-1893. Their

link with an historic period in our nation's history

gives these dollars an added appeal.

This coin is an uncirculated specimen of the Morgan

dollar, containing ninety percent silver, which some-

how survived the massive coin melts of the early

1900's. They were discovered by a Treasury audit in

1964, after nearly a century of obscurity in the vaults.

This issuance by General Services Administration of

the last of the uncirculated Carson City, dollars will

serve for millions of Americans as cherished memen-

tos of a colorful era.

Unites States Government / 1972

An eight digit serial number, printed in aqua ink, was stamped at the top right corner of the certificate of authenticity and a light aqua seal (showing a spread eagle with olive branches in the right talons and arrows in the left talons and a banner in its beak reading "e pluribus unum" and a circular emblem above it's feathered head) served as a "water-mark" of sorts. The certificate of authenticity was on light cardboard stock and it showed evidence of aging (yellowing).

The dimensions of the certificate were: 3 3/4 inches by 5 inches.

The real question is: "Are these really the 'last of the uncirculated Carson City dollars' or will subsequent audits reveal new finds?"

From Sell Info Products Online dot com (www.sellinfoproductsonline.com) this is LeBlond, Gerard LeBlond, and I'll see you there!