Bought it raw on eBay from a pawn store seller. They allow returns within 30 days so would appreciate thoughts on it. I was looking for a low cost example to fill a hole in a circulated type set album so not concerned about the grade, if it's been cleaned, or the punch/chop marks. Just want it to be authentic. Slightly more zoomed in picture can be seen here.
I don't see the things I usually notice on a fake, but I'm a bit worried about the top of the second L in DOLLAR. I assume the weight and dimensions check out. Even if it's genuine, and even though I have no problem collecting details coins, I'm not sure I'd want an ex-Woody-Woodpecker example like this. That's serious damage, and not nearly as evocative as the usual Chinese-character counterpunches...
The weight appears to be OK. My scale is showing right about 27 grams. I also confirmed it's not magnetic and dimensions check out at 38mm. I agree the punch marks are uglier than normal. The price I paid for it was right about $100 which seems to be about as cheap as you can get an authentic but damaged trade dollar for on ebay these days.
With unlimited patience, you could eventually get a better example for the same money, or a similar example for less money -- but nobody's patience is unlimited! Let's wait for others to weigh in, but I think you got what you expected, at a price you were willing to pay after doing your homework. Works for me.
Since you've already stated that it's just for a "filler", then it's a keeper (if it is authentic). However, even on e-Bay, you will probably be able to get a better "filler" for less than $100. So keep looking and upgrading when the time presents itself.
It appears authentic but badly damaged. Perhaps a temporary filler but I would replace it when possible. They may accept returns, but I doubt they would pay return shipping, better check. It may be worth it to just keep it and chock it up. Just my opinion, sorry. Good luck.
It's as I can tell is a Type 1. I look in my Breen book [it's old] but myself if I was looking would look for a better one. In my Numismatic News of Nov 2 has it for in G4 $140.00 retail but should be able to find one for less. Go to a coin show or local coin club or local dealer and look. Many online deals can be disappointing. Good luck.
It's a type 1/2; this die pair is scarce from both P and S mints, there's damage in the MM area, but I can almost talk myself into seeing part of an S peeking out
The only way to reduce a Trade Dollar's value to melt is to obliterate all its detail, most especially the date. As this thread illustrates, even badly damaged examples still command a premium over melt.
It sure looks genuine to me but those holes are not chop marks. It’s damaged, plain and simple. I would wait and find another coin that’s worn but not damaged.
Those punch marks are not representative of typical "Chop Marks" as there are no discernible characters, only (by my count) 19 triangular-shaped punch marks, and 2 crescent-shaped punch marks. Many of the triangular-shaped punch marks are so deep that they deformed the opposite side of the coin; IMO, someone intentionally used these punches to simulate (badly, IMO) a Trade Dollar that had circulated in Far East commerce in order to (hopefully) increase its attractiveness to the uninformed (in actuality, a genuine Trade Dollar of the same year, mint mark, and condition has a higher resale value than a Trade dollar with chop marks has). If genuine, whatever value the coin may have had has been destroyed by the defacing; I would open a RETURN by first contacting the Seller (bypasspawn2012) and telling them that their Listing is INACURATE in that their Description of "PUCH (sic PUNCH)/CHOP MARKS" are not true "Chop Marks" but are instead defacing, and ask them to accept the RETURN at their expense; if they balk at that, open a RETURN for SNAD.
My thought is "they straight grade chop marked ones this should straight grade also" There I said it, I for the life of me, can figure out why they (you know who) straight grades Trade Dollars with chop marks. After all it's POST MINT DAMAGE.
Look real to me. I'm usually skeptical of raw trade dollars, but the reeding in this one is sharp and the lettering is even. The top of the L that someone else mentioned looks like PMD to me. I think if this was a cast fake the details would not be that sharp. I'd buy it. Of course, if it's a very good fake, then the chop marks may have been used to hide flaws. Still, I think it's real.
Not chops by any stretch of the imagination. Damage, plain and simple. PCGS, NGC, ANACS and any of the other real TPGs will body bag it.
