1883-CC Morgan Silver Dollar (Old Rattler)

Some coins are collectible because of the coin itself. Others become even more desirable because of the holder—and this 1883-CC Morgan Silver Dollar offers the best of both worlds.

Struck during the height of Nevada’s legendary silver era, the 1883-CC Morgan carries the famous “CC” mintmark of the Carson City Mint. Only 1,204,000 examples were originally produced, giving it a fraction of the mintage of many Philadelphia and New Orleans issues from the same year.

This example is particularly impressive thanks to its MS65 Prooflike designation. Its reflective fields create a dramatic contrast with the raised design elements, giving the coin a sharper and more striking appearance than a typical business-strike Morgan. At the Gem Uncirculated level, it also displays the strong luster and clean overall presentation collectors expect from an MS65.

It is housed in an early-generation PCGS holder affectionately known among collectors as the “Rattler.” Used during the formative years of third-party grading in the late 1980s, these compact holders earned their nickname because the enclosed coin could sometimes move—or “rattle”—slightly inside the case.

Today, authentic PCGS Rattlers have become collectible artifacts in their own right. Many were cracked open over the years so the coins could be resubmitted, upgraded, or placed into newer holders. As a result, finding an attractive Carson City Morgan that remains preserved in its original Rattler holder is becoming increasingly difficult.

Collectors also appreciate these holders as tangible pieces of numismatic history. They represent the early days of professional coin certification, when PCGS was helping transform the way rare coins were graded, traded, and collected. There is also a long-standing belief among collectors that some coins in early holders may have been graded under more conservative standards—adding another layer of intrigue without guaranteeing that any particular coin would upgrade.

That combination makes this piece especially compelling: an 1883-CC Morgan Dollar, Gem MS65 quality, proof-like surfaces, and a scarce vintage PCGS Rattler holder.

This is more than a beautiful Carson City Morgan. It is a collectible coin housed inside a collectible piece of grading history—and exactly the kind of item that experienced collectors love showing off.