1877-S Trade dollar. Two questions.

Discussion in 'US Coins Forum' started by Stevearino, Oct 19, 2019.

  1. Stevearino

    Stevearino Well-Known Member

    I have had this trade dollar for about 55 years, bought for under $30 from an electrician who collected coins in our Northern Minnesota small town. I've read on CT that even years (decades) ago these were counterfeited. So, here are my two questions:

    1. Is there anything that would lead you to question its authenticity?

    2. What grade would you give it (ignoring the chop marks)? It appears AU58-MS60 to me in hand.

    Steve fullsizeoutput_11d1.jpeg fullsizeoutput_11d0.jpeg
     
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  3. Stevearino

    Stevearino Well-Known Member

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  4. Kentucky

    Kentucky Supporter! Supporter

    I want to know too.
     
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  5. Mainebill

    Mainebill Bethany Danielle

    No. I don’t question it. I don’t know what’s going of at 3-5 o clock on the reverse. Some type of rim damage it looks like. I believe it’s been cleaned probably just a dip 1877 p is one of the most common dates. I’d grade it au 55 for sharpness
     
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  6. Mainebill

    Mainebill Bethany Danielle

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  7. ksparrow

    ksparrow Coin Hoarder Supporter

    Looks genuine to me. Several obv chops which could easily lead to rim damage or flattening if the coin was on a hard surface when marked. To me, looks MS.
     
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  8. Islander80-83

    Islander80-83 Well-Known Member

    Are chop marks considered damage?
     
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  9. ksparrow

    ksparrow Coin Hoarder Supporter

    depends on who you ask. PCGS will give them a numeric grade. I don't know about NGC. Opinions vary among collectors.
     
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  10. C-B-D

    C-B-D Well-Known Member

    Genuine MS60 detail. Chopped. Beautiful!
     
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  11. Stevearino

    Stevearino Well-Known Member

    Thank you, guys, for your opinions which I trust far more than mine. It is one of only three or four coins of any value that I managed to save from my teenage collecting years. College, grad school, kids, homes, trips to Norway, moving 15 times...all took their toll on my collection. I thought $26 or $30 (not sure exactly) was a lot to pay for a dollar back then.

    Steve
     
  12. Mainebill

    Mainebill Bethany Danielle

    I believe ngc will give them a numeric grade. Personally I prefer pcgs. They are stricter on trade dollars I had a coin I clearly thought ms that I couldn’t get any better than 58 on. Cac will approve the rare chopped trade I personally don’t have any with chopmarks but that is a part of their history. You know this one went across the ocean and back to China
     
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  13. chascat

    chascat Well-Known Member

    AU58 chop marks...nice solid coin!
     
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  14. micbraun

    micbraun coindiccted

    No they don’t. I prefer NGC, they’re clearly ahead of PCGS in many ways... e.g. they don’t straight grade damaged coins ;-)

    2A43867E-CE7E-4DFE-9B49-F7C8448998E0.jpeg
     
  15. Collecting Nut

    Collecting Nut Borderline Hoarder

    Yes but they also add to the history of the coin. Character is added.
     
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  16. Collecting Nut

    Collecting Nut Borderline Hoarder

    That's a nice Trade Dollar @Stevearino! Looks lightly cleaned a long time ago. I would say a strong XF-40/AU-50. You should be pleased to have that in your collection. That one obverse chop mark that is deep is close enough to the rim to cause a flattening of the rim on the reverse.
     
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  17. physics-fan3.14

    physics-fan3.14 You got any more of them.... prooflikes?

    I consider them damage and will not buy a chopped coin.

    Many others consider them an interesting part of the coin's history, and collect them. They are in the same category as shipwreck effect coins, in my opinion - some people love them, some people consider them damaged.

    As for the OP's coin, I see nothing to make me question it's authenticity. I would call it AU-details, chopmarked.
     
  18. Islander80-83

    Islander80-83 Well-Known Member

    It's not mine. A little something that makes you go hmmmmm...

    Screen Shot 2019-10-20 at 4.07.02 PM.png
     
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  19. Collecting Nut

    Collecting Nut Borderline Hoarder

    Too bad that's not yours. It's a lovely coin.
     
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  20. Islander80-83

    Islander80-83 Well-Known Member

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  21. Kentucky

    Kentucky Supporter! Supporter

    Here's the coin from that slab, do you suppose the scratches had any thing to do with the "details" grade?
    Screenshot 2019-10-20 at 2.01.50 PM.png
     
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