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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Dnas, post: 7491372, member: 93707&quot;]One other point about WHY countries issued trade dollars.</p><p>Mostly, those countries needed to trade with China &amp; Indo-China, so they needed to use a standard form of trade currency. </p><p><br /></p><p>For example, in 1854, US steam ships of Commodore Perry arrived in Japan, and demanded that Japan trade with the US. He said that he would return in one year to sign a trade treaty. This caused chaos in Japan... some said they should fight to keep the foreigners out, but the Shogun (military leader of Japan) decided that Japan would trade. The Daimyo (samurai clan leaders) were split, and this caused to a chain-reaction, which led to revolt and the downfall of the feudal samurai class system, and the restoration of the Emperor as the military/political leader, not just the spiritual leader. Mutsuhito became emperor in 1867, and was restored to the military/political leader in 1868 (Meiji Restoration, as Emperor Meiji). Western style coinage was created in 1870. Although Mutsuhito became emperor in 1867, he was enthroned in 1868. So the first year coin in 1870 dates year 3 (1868=Yr1, 1869=Yr2, 1870=Yr3). </p><p><br /></p><p>Japan needed standard currency to trade, so they produced trade dollars from their own silver, although Japanese yen were also used.</p><p>Since China would trade goods in silver, other countries also produced trade dollars for the purpose. </p><p>The difference in weight between trade dollars (Britain 26.95g, Japan &amp; US 27.22g, France 27.15g, Mexico 8 Reales 27.07g + Japanese yen 26.96g) was probably difficult for some merchants to measure. US Trade Dollar vs British Trade Dollar = 1.27g, and it may not have made too much difference. The difference in price in today&#039;s silver prices is $20.64 vs $20.43, which is just over 1%.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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