I collect only trade dollar and these are what I have so far. Could you tell me is there any other existing trade dollar coin that I should add into my collection. Please give comment on these coin. Thank You
The Japanese yen coin that you showed is not the right trade dollar coin used back then. There are two different types used as trade dollar. One is the countermarked gin which was done in either Osaka or Tokyo. Here's one example that I googled: http://cgi.ebay.com.sg/Rare-1896-Ja...in_0?hash=item588010606d&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14 The real Japanese trade dollar coin was struck only for three years: 1875-1877. Here's something up for read: http://www.charm.ru/coins/misc/japanesetradedollar.shtml And this is my example of a terribly damaged Japanese trade dollar:
While gxseries is correct that coins designated "Trade Dollar" were only issued for three years, one authority points out that: Cummings then describes the history of monetization and demonetization of the silver yen, concluding with discussion of the fact that its production ceased in Meiji 30 (1897), and the later coins minted from Meiji 34-Taisho 3 (1901-14) At the time of final demonetization in 1897 and for several years thereafter, the silver yen could be exchanged on a one-for-one basis for gold yen. Some were melted, and the rest were counterstamped with the character for "gin" (silver) and shipped to Taiwan for use in trade. Bottom line - IMHO your Meiji 28 (1895) yen is fully qualified and entitled to be included in a collection of "trade dollars" despite lacking that legend.
That's pretty cool, I always assumed that the U.S. Trade Dollar was the only Trade dollar. Guess it makes sense that there should have been something to trade it with.
