Carson City Basic Type Set, Circulation Strikes (1870-1893)

Few names in U.S. numismatics are as revered as the legendary "Carson City" mint, which by its very name, evokes images of the old West and all the romance associated with that era. The Carson City mint was active during the last quarter of the 19th century, and is most known for its large denomination silver and gold coinage, so popular in the west at that time. While the basic type set is not large, it certainly contains some very tough coins, particularly the Seated Liberty Dollar. That type was struck only from 1870 to 1873, and mintages for the last three years were miniscule to say the least. The $10 Liberty will also be tough, as most mintages were low. In fact, only the 1891 and 1892 enjoyed mintages over 25,000 pieces. Luckily, Morgan Dollars were struck in some quantity in Carson City, so getting this set started is within reach of most anyone. In any event, it would be difficult to find a set more representative of late 19th century American than this slice of the "old west."