1876S "BOX" Dollar

gumby1234

Here is one of the 2 Box dollars I have. The other is a 1877 S made into a locket with an old photo inside.

291fifth

It looks like that one was made for a photo as well.

gumby1234

@291fifth I would think that they were all made for photos. I doubt anyone smuggled opium in them even though many people call them opium dollars.

291fifth

@gumby1234 said:
@291fifth I would think that they were all made for photos. I doubt anyone smuggled opium in them even though many people call them opium dollars.

Every one I have seen appears to have been made for photos. The "opium dollar" bit was likely a promotional ploy to make them seen more exotic to potential buyers.

gumby1234

@291fifth If I can get the 1877S box dollar open I will post it. That one has the original photo inside. Hard to get these things opened up sometimes.

PerryHall

They usually had a lock of hair or a photo of a loved one. Occasional they had an XXX rated pic inside.

Mr_Spud

Those are cool 🌛

BillJones

I bought this one many years ago from a dealer's bid wall.

Of course the "romantic story" is that these were used to smuggle opium. The more common contents were the photo of a loved one or something similar.

I have seen Columbian Half Dollars that have been turned into box coin pieces.

ricko

I was given a British coin by a friend of my wife.... She knew I was a coin collector, and had "This old coin". I looked at it, saw it was 'Two obverses'...then looked at the edge. She was amazed when I opened it, and found a Kennedy half dollar inside. I still have it. Cheers, RickO