As you probably know the last United States regular issue Seated Liberty Silver Dollar was struck in early 1873 at the following mints: 1) Philadelphia (no mint mark) 293,000 business strikes/600 proofs 2) Carson City (CC mint mark) 2,300 business strikes Here's an image of the Philly coin: (courtesy of coinfacts.com) http://www.coinfacts.com/silver_dollars/seated_liberty_dollars/1873_silver_dollar.htm The Seated Liberty Dollar was replaced by the Trade Dollar later in 1873 as a medium of trade with China, Korea and Japan. Trade Dollars were not struck for circulation in the United States initially, but were legal tender for up to $5. Things changed, however, in 1876, when the price of silver spiraled downward as western producers dumped silver on the market, making the Trade Dollar worth more at face value than its silver content. That resulted in Trade Dollars pouring back into the United States, as they were bought for as little as the equivalent of 80 US cents in Asia, and were then spent at $1 in the United States. This prompted Congress to revoke their legal tender status, and restrict their coinage to exportation demand only. Production of the Trade Dollar was officially halted for business strikes in 1878, and thereafter from 1879-1885, produced only as proofs. The issues of 1884 and 1885 were produced surreptitiously, and were unknown to the collecting public until 1908. You will recognize this Trade Dollar (image courtesy of coinfacts.com) http://www.coinfacts.com/silver_dollars/trade_dollars/1873_trade_dollar.htm But, do you know what the Trade Dollar could have looked like? This design is the first Trade Dollar pattern. It uses Longacre's indian princess design with 22 stars on the flag. This was apparently implemented by William Barber as Longacre died in 1869 (image courtesy of uspaterns.com): NOTE: Instead of "Trade Dollar" on reverse, it states "Commercial Dollar" and has the grams and silver fineness below "Dollar"and "E Plurbis Unum" in scroll at bottom. Lots of differences on the obverse too: Location of Liberty, Freedom Cap on long pole held by Liberty, rolled banners behind Liberty, and what else do you see different? http://store1.yimg.com/I/uspatterns_1861_21979 This next pattern Trade Dollar has the regular seated liberty obverse combined with the commmercial dollar reverse (image courtesy uspatterns.com): http://store1.yimg.com/I/uspatterns_1886_7186283 This next pattrern was Struck from William Barber's lower relief copy of the Longacre indian princess design. Note the obverse was struck with the regular "Trade Dollar" design (image courtesy of uspatterns.com): http://store1.yimg.com/I/uspatterns_1794_14213698 The "Trade Dollar" could have been struck with this obverse and reverse (image courtesy of uspatterns.com): http://store1.yimg.com/I/uspatterns_1794_15362719 ...or these ( "e pluribus unum" not in scroll) (image courtesy of uspatterns.com): http://store1.yimg.com/I/uspatterns_1794_15431496 ...or these ("e pluribus unum" in scroll) (image courtesy of uspatterns.com): http://store1.yimg.com/I/uspatterns_1866_30791 ...and did you know the "Trade Dollar" could have had this Amazonian Liberty Head (facing right) obverse? (image courtesy uspatterns.com): http://store1.yimg.com/I/uspatterns_1896_30853 If you think you've seen all the possibilities, look at this pattern's reverse (image courtesy of uspatterns.com)): http://store1.yimg.com/I/uspatterns_1794_15636520 Notice the "420 grains" and "900 fineness" in a continuous line on the reverse of this one. http://store1.yimg.com/I/uspatterns_1794_15850048 This pattern's reverse has "420 Grains" in a line with a line reading "900 fine" in a separate line below, plus the motto "In God we trust" is on a ribbon at the lower center (image courtesy of uspatterns.com): http://store1.yimg.com/I/uspatterns_1794_16173694 This next "Trade Dollar" pattern features a smaller "Trade" above a large "Dollar" in the upper center of the coin (image courtesy of uspatterns.com): http://store1.yimg.com/I/uspatterns_1794_16110561 Just look at the size of the :Freedom Cap" and the "pole"! What other differences do you see? (image courtesy of Teletrade): http://store1.yimg.com/I/uspatterns_1794_16314459 On this one I'm letting you discover the differences all by yourself (image courtesy uspatterns): http://store1.yimg.com/I/uspatterns_1794_16465026 This next one's Seated Liberty obverse has no sheaves of wheat or flags behind her and no Freedom Cap on a pole (image courtesy uspatterns.com): http://store1.yimg.com/I/uspatterns_1794_16671446 This one is a regular dies trial piece. Those struck in copper and aluminum were deliberately struck for sale to collectors as part of complete off-metal sets. Those struck in white metal or tin, however, are believed to be true trial pieces. A letter dated July 11, 1873 from Mint Superintendent James Pollock to Mint Director Henry Linderman confirms this: "I send you a specimen of a trade dollar in tin struck today. We will commence the regular coinage of trade $ in a few hours. The enclosed will give you a tolerably correct idea of the silver dollar." Here's an image of the "tin" pattern (trial piece"): http://store1.yimg.com/I/uspatterns_1873_18160 Here's the "copper" pattern ("trial piece") (image courtesy of uspatterns.com): http://store1.yimg.com/I/uspatterns_1794_84608786 The popular "Liberty at the Seashore" obverse combined with the Commercial Dollar reverse. This is believed to be a fantasy coin deliberately struck for sale to collectors (image courtesy of uspatterns,com): http://store1.yimg.com/I/uspatterns_1892_18389 The popular "Liberty at the seashore" obverse combined with the regular type I reverse with the berry under the eagle's claw. (image courtesy of uspatterns.com): http://store1.yimg.com/I/uspatterns_1794_19097449 Here's a pattern attributed to the year "1876," BUT!! Paquet's trade dollar design without date. The following is excerpted from the May 1999 Bass I sale and gives the reason for the this dateless pattern being struck in 1876. "For many years this coin, which bears no date, was included among patterns of 1873. However, Walter Breen has suggested that this may represent the result of the $600 paid to Anthony C. Paquet for hubs made in May, 1876. At that time some thought was given to redesigning the trade dollar, and Paquet, who had been working in the private sector for over a decade, was tapped to do the work on commission". Addition support for an 1876 mintage was found by Roger Burdette in the Mint Archives. "Pattern coin dies held by Coiner (Bosbyshell) on Dec 18, 1877: Trade Dollar dies – without date made by Paquet, 1 obverse and 1 reverse." (image courtesy uspatterns.com): http://store1.yimg.com/I/uspatterns_1943_13246202 This one was struck on copper and is dated 1876! (photo courtesy of Heritage): http://store1.yimg.com/I/uspatterns_1794_86369377 As with most die trials made from the 1860s onward, this next piece was deliberately struck and presented to A.M. Smith who was the author of the Mint's Visitors Guide. Notice the date. (image courtesy uspatterns.com): http://store1.yimg.com/I/uspatterns_1794_86433763 This last "Trade Dollar" pattern is probably the most desireous pattern to own. It is dated 1884 and struck in copper. As with most die trials made from the 1860s onward, these were deliberately struck. The two known examples were presented to the same A.M. Smith as was the 1888 dated coin presented before this one. (image courtesy uspatterns.com): http://store1.yimg.com/I/uspatterns_1794_80257813 Do you think the right design was selected to strike the "Trade Dollar" or did you like one of the other designs better? Which one? Cllinker
Wow, Clinker ! You've really outdone yourself this time. Thanks for the research ! :thumb: I've always liked the Trade Dollar design - one of my favorite US type coins. I hit all those links, and here is what I saw : a lot of good obverse designs and a lot of bad reverse designs. REALLY bad eagles on some of those. My favorite obverse is the "Liberty at the seashore". Sitting on a globe is better than sitting on a bale of cotton. I didn't like any of the busts of Liberty, and I'm glad they didn't use the "same ol' same ol' " Gobrecht Seated Liberty. I like those coins, but I'm glad they tried something more appropriate for the Trade Dollars. My favorite reverse is the one they actually used; I saw nothing better in any of those patterns. Again, thanks Clinker ! It was an interesting time for coinage what with these and the "goloid metric" stellas and quint stellas.
900fine Thanks for reading and commenting. Ithink the "Liberty at the seashore" should have been used with the chosen reverse too! Clinker
I too feel that the Liberty at the seashore pattern is the best. Be sure to note that the majority of pieces minted in this 'series' are fantasy pieces, with no actual need for production (at least in the numbers they were produced in).
Wow, that was a great deal of information, interesting patterns all, some good obverses. Thanks much as always for the trivia!
