This fully lustrous and powerfully struck NGC MS-64 1885-CC GSA silver dollar exudes all the radiance and eye appeal potentially reserved for higher graded specimens. It falls short of the GEM (or Choice Gem) category, though, because of a concentration of contact marks and one small defect that originated at the time of striking.

The blemishes aren’t terribly distractive, but they do limit the grade. Several are on Lady Liberty’s cheek and chin. The major scuff (if one can call it that) skids across the lower left obverse field between star 2 and the bottom of Liberty’s jaw. A small and narrow planchet void (probably a struck-through error) runs diagonally below star 4. Other than these, the obverse looks spectacular.

The reverse is MS-66 quality, with only a few small hits on the central left field keeping it from the MS-67 level. This side (like the obverse) is all white and stunningly brilliant. (Please note: the camera captured some haze located on the plastic GSA slab that partially covers the central right periphery, mostly around ICA in AMERICA. This haze is not on the coin.)

As an MS-64 piece, this example of one of the more sought after dates in the GSA “CC” silver dollar series will please most collectors.

*Each GSA silver dollar includes a genuine GSA Certificate of Authenticity and a black box.