Last month, Representative Mark Amodei (R-NV) introduced H.R. 6221 to Congress, a bill authorizing the United States Mint to create commemorative coins in honor of the 150th anniversary of the Carson City Mint. The Carson City Mint 150th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act of 2018 (H.R. 6221) authorizes the creation of a maximum of 500,000 $1 silver coins and 100,000 $5 gold coins. The silver coins will retail for $10 while the gold coins will sell for $35. Proceeds from the sale of the coins will go toward the Nevada State Museum Dedicated Trust Fund. The Nevada State Museum will benefit from these proceeds, having been located at the former Carson City Mint Facility since 1939.
An 1879-CC Morgan dollar, graded MS-66, recognized as a key date in the Morgan dollar series. Image courtesy of PCGS CoinFacts. Hover to zoom.
Concerning the design of the coins, the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) is expected to advise the Secretary of the Treasury in an “emblematic” direction. The Nevada State Museum Dedicated Trust Fund is also expected to join the CCAC in this endeavor. Given the association of the Carson City Mint with the “Wild West,” it is reasonable to expect that the coin designs will reflect the mint’s connection to the American frontier. It is also likely that the coins will pay homage to the ubiquitous Comstock Lode — a massive vein of silver ore located in the region where the Carson City Mint would be constructed in 1866. The Carson City Mint is renowned for their issues of Morgan dollars, half eagles, and Seated Liberty quarters, all of which can trace their 19th-century key dates to Carson City.
An Uncirculated 2006 San Francisco Commemorative Silver Dollar, graded MS-70. Image courtesy of PCGS CoinFacts.
According to Skopos Labs, H.R. 6221 currently has a 2% chance of being enacted, despite still being in the introduction phase. This is also despite precedent being set with the 2006 San Francisco Mint centennial gold and silver commemorative coins. The bill is expected to be debated by committees before going on to the House or the Senate. Coin collectors typically hold the Carson City Mint in high regard, so if the bill manages to get enacted, coin sales would likely be quite successful. To read more about H.R. 6221, please click here.
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Maybe the silver dollars can have a Morgan dollar face and on the reverse have the CC mint building.
It would be fun to have a Trade dollar reverse with the CC mintmark.
Thanks for the update.
I am sure you meant to say, “they carry a surcharge of” instead of “will retail for $10 while the gold coins will sell for $35”.
Why not do the right thing by being smart, bold, creative, and, save $$$$$$$ by terminating the production of the Pennies and Nickels, and, One and Five Dollar Bills in favor of one and five dollar coins. Alas, too avant garde for Washingtoners…