My First Trade Dollar!

After "visiting" this 1877-S Trade Dollar for the last couple of weeks and negotiating down the price,I finally bought it for myself as a Christmas present.
Cleaned? surely, Perfect? no,one good litte scratch in front of her face and some hairlines, but the detail is amazing and for sure the best I could afford. :thumb:
oh yeah....it IS real.No Hong Kong mama here.

 

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Just as an aside,the dealer threw this in on the deal...love the camo packaging.

 

That is a NICE one....what AU..NET VF cleaned??...the detail is great it seems!

Speedy

 

Speedy,
I'm not sure what the grade is.It came with a letter of authenticity from Harlan J.Berk,Ltd stating that it was genuine but didn't give a grade.They apparently purchased it from an estate in 2000 for $122 and resold it in 2003.I paid more though..LOL
AU might be pushing it a bit but it is a great strike.

 

I need my SUN-GLASSES... Very Nice!

B

 

That does have amazing detail. You should be pleased to have a great addition to your collection. Merry Christmas to you!

 

I like the coin. Finding these coins fully struck up is harder than many realize.

Also, Harlan J Berk is a classy outfit -- I've never been unhappy with any of my transactions with them.

Again, nice pickup!..Mike

 

Looks like from here a high-end AU!!Nice coin!(cleaned), Maybe it will tone back in time....

 

That is a very nice looking TD I have a couple of UK issued ones but not quite of that standard

De Orc :kewl:

 

Just for kicks,I took the Trade Dollar into work today because we sell food scales for chefs and dieters.They are accurate only to 1 gram.I zeroed it out and placed the coin on it...BING 27g. That's the right number,at least as close as this scale could tell.
Actual weight 27.22 grams.

 

Beautifyl Coin! Congratulations. FYI, I posted a 1877-S a couple of weeks ago seeking a grade opinion. Some stated it looked "fake" and that was confiemed by a local coin dealer. Now what is interesting is the weight of the coin. It WAS almost exactly the weight of an original. So close that the dealer said the difference could be the slight wear on the coin. So I don't know now about judging this coin by its weight. I just wanted to pass this info along in case someone looks on FeeBay or elsewhere for one and the description gives the weight of an original.

 

There are many counterfeit Trade Dollars made in China that are of the correct weight.

Please don't get the wrong idea -- I'm not saying this is a fake. Quite to the contrary, as I would have a great deal of difficulty believing Harlan J. Burke would sell a fake.

I'm simply saying that weight in and of itself is not a way to validate if a trade dollar is genuine....Mike

 

Here's a closeup of the obverse.I welcome all opinions because the dealer I bought it from would take it back with no problems.Also,who thinks I should submit it and to which grading service.

 

Anacs or NCS are the only ones that would grade this coin due to the cleaning...Mike

 

Well....in most cases I wouldn't slab this because its been cleaned....also...a friend and member on this forum had a coin that myself and a dealer was sure it was a fake...PCGS slabbed it...now I could have messed up for sure....but it wouldn't be the first time I've heard of PCGS grading a fake...and this coin sure didn't have the right detail.

Speedy

 

Not that I suggest them but PCI will also grade cleaned coins....my dealer is a BIG fan of PCI

Speedy

 

Weight is always the first thing to check when trying to determine authenticity. If you weigh a trade dollar and it weighs 27.3 grams does that mean it is real? NO! What it means is that it has passed the first test and other things should now be checked.

On the other hand if it weighs 25 grams, there is no need to waste time making other tests, its fake. Weight is something that confirms fake, not real. It is usually the quickest and easiest (and cheapest) test that can be run, and usually it is very clear if the weight is right or wrong. That is why it is always the first question asked, What does it weigh?

 

I took the Trade Dollar to 3 seperate coin shops yesterday and today and asked the owners and patrons most of whom have years of experience in US coins and asked them to give me their honest opinions on the authenticity of the coin.I did NOT show them the original certificate from Harlan Berk,or mention it.The magnifying glasses,loupes and scales came out and to a man (total of 11),they all said it was the real thing.
Some recommended sending it to a TPG and 5 or 6 said ANACS.The general consensus was an exceptional strike and that it would get some sort of AU-cleaned grade.
I've never submitted a coin for grading before.Speedy recommends PCI which seems to be a reputable company.Any advice on what websites to go to or how to send/insure it?

 

You should re-read Speedy's post, he did NOT recommend PCI (he just pointed out that they would grade a cleaned coin). In fact, I expect that Speedy would recommend ANACS for that coin, as would I.

 

I don't suggest PCI....and TCT is right...ANACS
But you are only going to have 2 places that will grade this coin...ANACS or PCI....they are the only ones that will grade a cleaned one.
ANACS is best IMO...PCI is cheaper...but the grading will be off too

Speedy