Why a Carson City Mint? Before silver was discovered in Carson County, Utah Territory, Abraham Curry founded Carson City (named by Curry in tribute to the famous trailblazer, Kit Carson), way back in 1858. Shortly after Carson City was chartered, the Western portion of Utah Territory was split off and designated the Territory of Nevada. In the following year (1859) the richest deposits of silver ore ever found in the world (more high grade silver ore than Joachimsthal, Bohemia or Potosi, Bolivia) giving birth to the Comstock Lode. Most of the rich silver ore (and lesser amounts of gold) was shipped over the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the United States Mint at San Francisco. This was costly and incurred some risk, as well. Though Indians were no longer a factor in Nevada and California, bandits were. The mine owners petitioned Congress for a branch mint in Nevada itself, and this question was put to Treasury Secretary Salmon P. Chase on June 2, 1862. Chase deferred to Mint Director James Pollock who, as an opponent of all branch mints, naturally spoke against it. He was largely ignored by all parties, and the House Ways and Means Committee instead reported favorably on the establishment of a mint in the Nevada Territory. In addition to the arguments in favor of a new already cited, the committee pointed out that much of the refined metal emanating from the San Francisco Mint, whether in the form of coins or ingots, was shipped overseas and lost to the domestic economy. It was declared that a mint further inland was likely to keep the its product within the USA thus, somehow, saving the Treasury $500,000 annually. The exact cause and effect relationship of this savings was not explained, but its appeal was sufficient to get the Nevada mint bill passed through both the House and the Senate in a single day-March 3, 1863. But, as the old adage goes "...the best laid plans of mice and men often go astray." Progress was often slowed or stopped by such things as the Civil War, brutal Winters and the perilous route (around Cape Horn) the delivery vessels had to sail in order to transport the mint's machinery. These problems were ultimately overcome, and Curry, who was now the superintendent of the mint, awaited impatiently for the arrival of dies from Philadelphia. Tests of the machinery were conducted at various times during 1869, and everything was deemed to be in readiness. By December, dies had still not arrived, and Curry hastened to point out that ones dated 1869 were no longer of any value at that point and that the dies should be dated 1870. In due course, these did in fact arrive by Wells Fargo Express, but not until January 10, 1870. 50 issues of silver coins and 57 issues of gold coins minted here between 1870 and 1893 bore the "CC" mint mark. The arrival of dies signaled the start of coining, and records show that the first denomination struck was the silver dollar, the very symbol of Nevada's majesty. These dollars were of the Seated Liberty type, designed by Christian Gobrecht back in 1836 and coined in modest numbers from 1840 onward. The reverse of each piece displayed a heraldic eagle with a shield upon its breast, and beneath the eagle was the Carson City mintmark, a pair of side-by-side letters 'CC.' Before I let you see a photo a 1870-CC Seated Liberty Silver Dollar and photo of the other coins struck during 1870 I want you to see a photo of the first coin press used at the Carson City Mint courtesy of Nevada Division of Museums and History: http://nevadaculture.org/museums/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=527&Itemid=1 As promised here's the 1870-CC Silver Dollar (photo courtesy of Bowers and Merena): http://www.bowersandmerena.com/auctions/lot_detail.aspx?auctionno=13180&SessionNo=3&LotNo=3090 The first depositor of bullion to receive payment in coin was a Mr. A. Wright, who was paid 2,303 silver dollars bearing the 'CC' mintmark on February 11, 1870. And now here's those other 'CC' coins minted IN 1870. Gold Half Eagles ($5) were first minted on March 1. I couldn't locate a photo of an 1870-CC gold Half Eagle, but did find one of an 1874-CC courtesy of Northern Nevada Coin: http://www.brokencc.com/view_photo.php?obverse=CA188&reverse=CA198&description=&description_string=1874-CC%20$5.00%20Liberty%20W/M%20Gold%20NGC%20VF-35&retail_price=2310&coin_number=47447&denomination=&certification_service=&grading_range_from=0&grading_range_to=70&mint_mark=CC&price_range_from=0&price_range_to=&date_range_from=&date_range_to=&toned=0&proof=&proof_mint_sets=&type_string=&search_text= The first gold Double Eagles ($20) were struck March 10 (photo courtesy of Coin Link): http://www.coinlink.com/News/us-coins/the-queen-of-carson-city-gold-the-1870-cc-20-double-eagle/ Silver coinage continued with the half dollar on April 9 (photo courtesy of Bowers and Merena): http://bowersandmerena.com/auctions...&sessionno=1&catno=40&searchstring=&lotno=869 and the quarter dollar on the 20th: I wasn't able to locate a photo of an 1870-CC Quarter, but did find one of an 1871-CC. Photo courtesdy of Northern Nevada Coin: http://www.brokencc.com/view_photo....of=&proof_mint_sets=&type_string=&search_text= Hope you enjoyed... Clinker
Terrific information. I think every US collector wants to have at least one CC in their collection. The history of this time and part of the country is fascinating.
Great info Clinker :thumb:. Btw here's a pic of the 1870 CC Quarter. 1870-CC 25C AU50 NGC. The 1870-CC is the key date in the Seated Liberty quarter series, with the exception of the unique 18.....
To Art: I think you are right there. CC mint very important factor in America's numismatic history. To raider34. Thanks for the photo... Clinker
