1878-CC Morgan Dollar

The 1878-CC Morgan dollar combines the distinction of the inaugural year of the venerable silver series with the cachet of the mintmark emblematic of the short-lived historic Carson City Mint. Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) has graded tens of thousands of these, but strong collector demand means that even About Uncirculated examples cost hundreds of dollars, with nicer examples crossing the $1,000 mark just above the median grade of Mint State-63.

NGC recently received a purported 1878-CC Morgan dollar in a submission from an East Coast dealer. An immediate concern is its dull, flat surfaces, which have an odd color and a subdued luster. (This is because the coin is struck in mostly copper and nickel, instead of the expected 90-percent silver.) But let’s take a closer look.

The reverse holds some important clues about the coin’s spurious nature. First, note that the top arrow’s feather is slanted on the counterfeit, while it is straight on the genuine example. This is because the counterfeit uses a reverse type that was not used with Carson City Morgan dollars until at least 1879. The mintmark type is also inconsistent with what is expected on an 1878-CC.

Additionally, note the spikes in this area of the counterfeit, including ones that emerge from the eagle’s tail feathers. These are giveaways, as are the blobs of metal that appear around the date on the obverse. Lastly, notice how mushy some of the details are, including the stars to the right of the date.

It’s important to note that not all counterfeits have this many red flags. If you are unsure whether your coin is genuine, remember that NGC backs its determinations of authenticity and grade with the NGC Guarantee.

A version of this article appears in the August 2025 issue of The Numismatist (money.org).