1880-CC Rev 78 GSA Morgan Silver Dollar - BU (with Box and COA)

Product ID: BST-002024C9FC

Specifications

Year 1880
Precious Metal Type Silver
Bullion Coin Type Morgan Dollar
Format Coin
Country of Origin United States
Brand/Mint U.S. Mint
Mint Mark CC - Carson City
Purity 0.9
Weight 0.7734 oz
Thickness (mm) 2.4 mm
Diameter (mm) 38.1 mm
Inner Pack (Quantity) 20
Grade BU

Product Details

Overview of the 1880-CC Rev 78 GSA Morgan Silver Dollar

The 1880-CC Rev 78 GSA Morgan Silver Dollar is a historic 90% silver coin struck at the Carson City Mint and distributed through the General Services Administration's landmark coin program of the 1970s. Each coin weighs 0.7734 troy ounces of silver and carries the long-established Morgan dollar design that remains one of the most recognized coin series in American numismatic history. This particular example is graded Brilliant Uncirculated, meaning it retains the original mint luster expected of an unissued coin that spent decades in federal storage rather than circulation. We carry this coin in its original GSA packaging, complete with the box and Certificate of Authenticity that accompanied the original government release.

The "Rev 78" designation is a specific die variety distinction that makes this date and mint combination more nuanced than a standard 1880-CC. It refers to the use of reverse dies from 1878 rather than the updated reverse introduced in later years, and collectors who pursue date and variety completeness actively seek out this distinction within the Carson City Morgan series.

History and Background

The

Overview of the 1880-CC Rev 78 GSA Morgan Silver Dollar

The 1880-CC Rev 78 GSA Morgan Silver Dollar is a historic 90% silver coin struck at the Carson City Mint and distributed through the General Services Administration's landmark coin program of the 1970s. Each coin weighs 0.7734 troy ounces of silver and carries the long-established Morgan dollar design that remains one of the most recognized coin series in American numismatic history. This particular example is graded Brilliant Uncirculated, meaning it retains the original mint luster expected of an unissued coin that spent decades in federal storage rather than circulation. We carry this coin in its original GSA packaging, complete with the box and Certificate of Authenticity that accompanied the original government release.

The "Rev 78" designation is a specific die variety distinction that makes this date and mint combination more nuanced than a standard 1880-CC. It refers to the use of reverse dies from 1878 rather than the updated reverse introduced in later years, and collectors who pursue date and variety completeness actively seek out this distinction within the Carson City Morgan series.

History and Background

The Morgan dollar series was authorized by the Bland-Allison Act of 1878, which mandated the Treasury to purchase and coin silver in response to pressure from western silver mining interests. The coins were designed by George T. Morgan, a British-born engraver who joined the United States Mint and whose initials appear on the obverse. Production continued through 1904 and resumed briefly in 1921, resulting in one of the most extensively documented coin series in American history.

The Carson City Mint operated from 1870 to 1893 and was established specifically to process silver from the Comstock Lode in Nevada. Its output was relatively limited compared to the Philadelphia and New Orleans mints, which contributes to the consistently stronger collector demand for CC-mint issues across nearly all Morgan dollar dates. The 1880-CC in particular saw a mintage of just over 591,000 coins, and examples that avoided circulation entirely were held in Treasury vaults for nearly a century.

The GSA distribution program in the early 1970s was authorized to sell off millions of uncirculated Morgan and Peace dollars that had remained in government vaults since the early twentieth century. Carson City Morgans were among the most prized coins in those sales. The government packaged them in distinctive hard plastic holders inside a small presentation box, each accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity, creating a standardized format that collectors still associate directly with government-issued Carson City survivors.

Design and Aesthetics

The obverse features a left-facing portrait of Liberty wearing a Phrygian cap adorned with wheat and cotton, with the inscriptions "E PLURIBUS UNUM" above and the date below. The initials "M" appear on the truncation of the neck, acknowledging the designer. The portrait is notable for its high relief and fine detail, qualities that remain visible on well-preserved examples.

The reverse used on the Rev 78 variety features an eagle with its wings spread, holding arrows and an olive branch, with a wreath of cotton, wheat, tobacco, and corn encircling the design. The eight tail feathers and the distinctive parallel arrow feathers identify this as the 1878-style reverse, which differs subtly but measurably from the reverse type introduced in 1879. The "CC" mintmark appears below the eagle, confirming the Carson City origin. The inscription "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and the denomination "ONE DOLLAR" complete the reverse composition.

GSA coins in original packaging present within the sealed hard plastic holder, which allows both sides to be viewed while protecting the surfaces. Brilliant Uncirculated examples in this format typically show the cartwheel luster associated with freshly struck silver, making them visually distinct from circulated counterparts even when viewed through the holder's plastic casing.

Authenticity and Product Integrity

Morgan dollars struck at the Carson City Mint carry one of the most closely scrutinized pedigrees in American coinage, and the presence of original GSA packaging provides a meaningful layer of provenance authentication on its own. The original GSA box and Certificate of Authenticity confirm the coin's participation in the government distribution program, establishing a documented chain of custody that traces directly to federal storage.

We are authorized dealers for both PCGS and NGC, which means we work within the same professional grading ecosystem that collectors rely on when evaluating Morgan dollar submissions. Every product we handle is verified for authenticity and consistency with its stated specifications before it reaches a customer. The 90% silver composition and 0.7734 troy ounce silver weight are standard for all Morgan dollars and are supported by more than a century of documented mint production.

Condition and Packaging

Brilliant Uncirculated condition indicates a coin that was never placed into general circulation and retains its original mint surfaces. For GSA Morgans, BU typically describes coins that spent decades in sealed Treasury bags before being repackaged by the government, which means some may show light bag marks consistent with contact during storage. These are surface characteristics attributable to handling within the original federal storage environment rather than wear from circulation, and they are broadly accepted as normal within the context of GSA holdings.

This coin is offered with its original GSA box and Certificate of Authenticity, which are integral to its collectible identity and should be preserved alongside the coin itself. The hard plastic GSA holder encases the coin directly and is generally kept intact by collectors to maintain the original presentation. Separating the coin from its holder or box meaningfully reduces the appeal of the complete set for buyers who value the original government packaging as part of the coin's history.

Pricing and Market Factors

Pricing for the 1880-CC Rev 78 GSA Morgan reflects both the underlying silver content and a meaningful numismatic premium above spot. The silver spot price establishes a baseline given the 0.7734 troy ounce silver weight, but this coin trades primarily as a collectible rather than a commodity, meaning demand from Morgan dollar collectors and Carson City enthusiasts carries more pricing weight than silver's day-to-day movements alone.

Several factors support the premium on this specific coin. Carson City Morgans command consistent collector interest due to the mint's limited production history and western heritage. The Rev 78 variety adds specificity that appeals to date-and-variety collectors within the broader Morgan dollar market. Original GSA packaging with the box and COA intact further distinguishes this coin from raw or rehoused examples. Our pricing reflects current wholesale market conditions and is updated in real time to remain aligned with how the market is actually trading.

Selling and Liquidity

GSA Morgan dollars with original packaging are among the more liquid collectible coins in the secondary market because their provenance is well understood, their government-issued packaging is recognizable, and the buyer base spans both numismatists and silver stackers. The Carson City designation intensifies demand compared to Philadelphia or San Francisco issues of the same date, which generally supports stronger resale conditions when collectors are actively seeking to complete their sets.

We operate a two-way market that allows customers to both purchase and sell within the same platform. Evaluating what a coin like this would bring at wholesale before purchasing it is a straightforward part of understanding the full cost of ownership, and our buy/sell infrastructure is built to make that comparison accessible rather than opaque.

Why Buy the 1880-CC Rev 78 GSA Morgan Dollar?

Few Morgan dollar offerings combine the historical weight of Carson City production, the die variety interest of the Rev 78 reverse, and the documented government provenance of GSA packaging into a single package. Each of these characteristics adds independent value, and their combination results in a coin that appeals to multiple collecting disciplines simultaneously. Buyers focused on date and variety completion, Carson City set building, or original GSA holdings will find this coin relevant to all three pursuits.

The inclusion of the original box and Certificate of Authenticity is not a minor addition. It preserves the coin's complete identity as a government-distributed piece and distinguishes it from examples that have been rehoused or stripped of their original materials. For collectors who prize originality and traceability, a complete GSA package is the preferred format and meaningfully different from a coin sold without it.

Why Buy from Bullion Standard?

We have been operating as a nationally recognized precious metals and numismatic marketplace since 2010, and our approach has always prioritized transparency over pressure. Our pricing is tied to live market conditions, our buyback model gives customers a clear picture of both the purchase and resale sides of the transaction, and every product we sell is authenticated before it reaches the buyer. Our A rating with the Better Business Bureau reflects the consistency of that approach across thousands of transactions.

Our membership in the American Numismatic Association and the National Coin and Bullion Association reflects our commitment to the professional standards that experienced collectors and buyers expect. As authorized dealers for both PCGS and NGC, we operate within the grading ecosystem that underpins the collectible coin market. For a coin like the 1880-CC Rev 78 GSA Morgan, where provenance and authenticity matter as much as the silver content, buying from a dealer with verified credentials and a two-way market structure provides meaningful assurance at every stage of ownership.

Get Near-Spot Pricing with Bullion Standard Pro

Bullion Standard Pro gives members access to live executable wholesale bid and ask pricing, which means you can evaluate the actual wholesale market value of a coin like the 1880-CC Rev 78 GSA Morgan before committing to a purchase. Rather than working from static retail prices, Pro members see real-time pricing that reflects current supply and demand within the wholesale market, including how premiums and bid/ask spreads are behaving at any given moment. For numismatic coins where premiums can fluctuate meaningfully based on collector demand, that level of pricing visibility is genuinely useful.

Pro also includes proprietary market intelligence tools and product research capabilities that allow members to compare coins across the broader catalog using objective metrics such as historical premiums, spread tightness, and liquidity indicators. Portfolio valuation within Pro is based on live executable wholesale bid prices rather than estimated retail values, giving members a more realistic view of what their holdings are worth in current market conditions rather than what they might theoretically sell for at retail.

Flexible and Secure Payment Options

We support a broad range of payment methods to accommodate buyers regardless of how they prefer to transact. Accepted options include Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, PayPal, bank-connected payments through Plaid, wire transfer, paper check, and cryptocurrency via BitPay. Each method is supported within a secure transaction environment designed to protect buyer information and facilitate reliable order processing.

Choosing the right payment method can also affect the final price, since certain payment types such as wire transfer or check may qualify for lower premiums. We encourage buyers to review available payment options at checkout to identify the most cost-effective path for their purchase. The goal throughout is to make the transaction as straightforward and transparent as the rest of the buying experience.

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