1885 Trade dollar and 1913 Liberty Head nikel

About 1887. From U.S. Coins Close Up by Robert R. Van Ryzin: "By the 1880's, many unwanted discounted coins had gravitated eastward. In 1887, by which time many of the Trade dollars had fallen into the hands of speculators, the government began redeeming coins that were not mutilated. Some 7,689,056 pieces were gathered and melted."

 

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If I were a big money guy, I would consider the Trade a bargain at current prices. That coin is on the watch list ofmost of my favorite speculators and the ticket to the show will rise for years. The fact is though that the 1913 Liberty is one of only two proof nickels that are not for the average collectors (the other being the 1867 rays). And the 1913 is a far more famous coin and will always be above the 1885 IMO.

 

2m demand isn't as high.

 

It is generally thought that the 1884 and 1885 Trade dollars were made well after the date on the coin. At one point the father of coin dealers Max Mahl had most of the coins available through mail order for about $100. Anybody have a time machine that I could borrow

 

Actually I am not wrong.

73d Congress Sess I Chs 48, 49 June 5,6 1933 pg 133



All coins and currencies of the United States (including Federal Reserve notes and circulating notes of Federal Reserve banks and national banking associations) heretofore or hereafter coined or issued, shall be legal tender for all debts, public and private, public charges, taxes, duties, and dues, except that gold coins, when below the standard weight and limit of tolerance provided by law for the single piece, shall be legal tender only at valuation in proportion to their actual weight.

Approved, June 5, 1933, 4:40 PM


This would have restored the legal tender status to the trade dollars (and given it to the half cents as well)

I don't believe that Mehl had the coins. They all came out of the mint through William Idler and then passed on to his dealer son in law Capt John Haseltine and were not revealed to the collecting world until around 1910.

 

here ya go, if you are a millionare and want this coin, your time is April 25: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...3793604171.122281.104327749171&type=1&theater

 

People who buy these kinds of rarities are not necessarily interested in the rest of the series. Some are, but some are just looking for trophy coins. And I'm not at all sure that Liberty nickels are not more popular than Trade dollars. No data are perfect, but look at the PCGS Set Registry, for example. There are currently 86 different collectors working on the Liberty Nickel Circulation Strikes. That compares to 13 for the Trade Dollar Circulation Strikes. As for size, look at the records for 1792 half dismes. Their small size is not exactly holding them back.

None of this diminishes the importance or desirability of an 1885 Trade dollar. But the Walton 1913 Liberty nickel at Heritage is up to $2.2 million plus BP, and it looks like it has a long way to go.

Best Regards, :hail:

George

 

Post #27 tells it all
:devil:Trophy Coin:smile
Some like that 15mins of Fame.
$ won't allow 98% too do that cash wise unless u find it as a passed down long lost relative you never knew :smile

 

Just yesterday I saw a huge federal plastic bag filled with 400,000 in 20 dollar notes. I see bags and bags of change everyday at work in which I salivate, dreaming of roll/bag searching all those coins. Now and again a person in the cage finds something and gives it to me. I have people looking out for old coins and paper money at work. So far my efforts have produced 2 SLQ's. 1 silver war nickel, a few buffalo nickels, and 60.00 in old currency ranging from $2.00 notes to old 20's. On occasion I've seen the 1934 $100 note, but all have been too worn to keep. I don't think about what I could buy if I had all that money, I think about what can I find in this stack/pile of money and change? It's like a treasure hunt every day at work.