Waaaayy back in the beginning of my adult collecting days I bought this out of a small shop in Silver Spring, MD (not Bonanza). I had a Dansco Japan Type Set album I was in the very early stages of working on. There was no way I'd be putting a trade dollar coin in it and I used this as my 'trade dollar substitute' coin. A chopped up old yen functioned in a similar real-life role after all. I always said this coin has 'character', but in my older years I just have to wonder/assume that someone was just playing with this coin. Someone who studies chops can probably weigh in on how real these look. Nonetheless, I love the coin for it's look and the fact it held down a big spot in the album for many, many years (until an 'affordable' trade dollar found it's way to me). If anyone out there is a chop expert I'd love your opinions and comments.
Wow... that thing took a good beating... I unfortunately don't know much about chops, but this is one of my favorite coins and I've never seen one so mauled. Thanks for posting! Hopefully someone can answer your questions.
That countermark in relief on the reverse is cool. Ones like that, rather than plain chops, are more scarce and more valuable.
Seems legit to me. I would just make sure that it is the correct weight, and not a silver washed copper core. And if it is a contemporary counterfeit host, I would be very interested
