Trade Dollar

Here is an 1878-S Trade Dollar. A little beat up from circulation but no chop marks. I needed a lower grade one for my Whitman’s Type Set as that is a circulation set. Only 3 more coins to go and it’s completed. Even in lower grades they are a bit costly but not real expensive. One day this year.

 

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Nice coin, I've always liked trade dollars. Trouble is there are a lot of coins I like. I understand counterfieters like them also.

 

The one thing I find interesting about Trade Dollars is that when the government basically recalled them, the government would not take any of them that had chop marks.

 

I didn't know about that recall.

 

I couldn’t think of the correct term last night but recall wasn’t it. Two years after the last of the Trade Dollars were minted, 1887 I believe, the Treasury redeemed all unmutilated Trade Dollars. Why they couldn’t have chop marks is beyond me.

 

A couple chop marks never hurt anybody. Sometimes you don’t even notice them.

 

My common crusty example

 

I have a thing for discreet chops. I think they add 'flava' and besides, are probably a good indicator that the TD in question is authentic. Yet--being so discreet--they don't detract at all from the coin's appeal. Spot the Chops!