Newp: Key Rare date addition to my set (Chopped 78-CC T$)

lermish

This is not the most beautiful coin ever. But sometimes we have to make exceptions for the tough ones and this one is almost as tough as it gets. 97k 78-CC trade dollars were minted but 44k were melted leaving a net distribution of 53k. Total survivors are likely in the hundreds. Of those, there are likely less than a dozen chopmarked 78-CCs. The even more true rarity of the set is the 75P; there are less than 5 verifiable examples. But the last time a 78-CC came up for public auction was 2017 so this was not the time to be picky. I thought I would have to wait years to find an example - I couldn't be happier this came up and I had the opportunity to add it to my set!

ricko

@lermish ... Nice acquisition and only one chop mark. Cheers, RickO

LanceNewmanOCC

if you put trade dollar and/or chop mark in the title, you'll get a lot more action, if that is your goal. perhaps you are just sharing.

lermish

@LanceNewmanOCC said:
if you put trade dollar and/or chop mark in the title, you'll get a lot more action, if that is your goal. perhaps you are just sharing.

Nah, just sharing:) Chopmarks are not necessarily everyone's bag, so be it.

TomB

That's a pretty cool coin and I'm glad you were able to snag it.

kaz

Very tough coin, congratulations!

alefzero

That was mine until recently. I have tracked 7 chopmarked of the date by die pairs. One pair has 4, another 2, this is the only example for its die pair. The fourth die pair has no such specimen identified yet. It is a major coin and very glad to see it quickly found a deserving home with an appreciating collector.

asheland

Nice! 👍

alefzero

Chopmarked Census
PCGS MS62 – unknown variety
PCGS AU58 – C-3
PCGS AU55 – C-3
PCGS XF45 – C-3
PCGS XF40 – C-4
PCGS XF40 – unknown variety
NGC XF40 Details – C-4
PCGS VF35 – C-1
PCGS VF35 – C-3

Find a chopped C-2. I have not seen the PCGS MS62 nor the second PCGS XF40 ones.

WildWestHalfDollars

Would you have the link to the auction? Great pick up when a very rare coins comes up best to go after it unless you want to wait years and years or maybe not even see another in your lifetime.

lermish

@KingOfMorganDollar said:
Would you have the link to the auction? Great pick up when a very rare coins comes up best to go after it unless you want to wait years and years or maybe not even see another in your lifetime.

https://coins.ha.com/itm/trade-dollars/1878-cc-t-1-chop-mark-vf35-pcgs/a/1349-3712.s?ic5=CatalogHome-ActionArea-JumpToLot-071515

WildWestHalfDollars

@lermish said:

@KingOfMorganDollar said:
Would you have the link to the auction? Great pick up when a very rare coins comes up best to go after it unless you want to wait years and years or maybe not even see another in your lifetime.

https://coins.ha.com/itm/trade-dollars/1878-cc-t-1-chop-mark-vf35-pcgs/a/1349-3712.s?ic5=CatalogHome-ActionArea-JumpToLot-071515

Thanks. A coin you will treasure for a long time maybe your whole life. Keep it and enjoy it. Trophy coins are sure fun to own.

Omegaraptor

Congratulations on the find. The 1878-CC trade dollar may be the most underrated rare American silver dollar. And of course extremely rare with chopmarks.

breakdown

It’s a bit like collecting two feather Buffalo nickels. To put a nice set together, some of your examples might not be condition nice.
Still a cool group to collect. Congrats.

2windy2fish

Slightly off topic but, wasn’t it perhaps 7 or 8 years ago that PCGS would details every chop marked every Trade Dollar regardless of actual coin condition?
I can recall 2 that i submitted that would have been straight grade that came back Damaged..

lermish

@2windy2fish said:
Slightly off topic but, wasn’t it perhaps 7 or 8 years ago that PCGS would details every chop marked every Trade Dollar regardless of actual coin condition?
I can recall 2 that i submitted that would have been straight grade that came back Damaged..

I believe it was longer ago than that. The below is not my coin but that holder dates to (I think?) 2002. Any coins other than US T$s with chops will still come back as damaged.

BlueSofa

@alefzero said:
Chopmarked Census
PCGS MS62 – unknown variety
PCGS AU58 – C-3
PCGS AU55 – C-3
PCGS XF45 – C-3
PCGS XF40 – C-4
PCGS XF40 – unknown variety
NGC XF40 Details – C-4
PCGS VF35 – C-1
PCGS VF35 – C-3

Find a chopped C-2. I have not seen the PCGS MS62 nor the second PCGS XF40 ones.

Returning to this post and the definitive chopped 1878-CC T$ census to report that I’ve recently acquired a raw example with one chop on both the obv and rev, and it is now in a PCGS AU Details (Cleaned) holder. I believe this coin puts a new tally on the census!

With this prize - one I never dreamed of holding and evidence that there are still rare and key dates out there in the wild - my chopped trade set is effectively complete, less the 75-P.

MEJ7070

Congrats on the pickup. Love to see the real rarities end up in the hands of those who appreciate them most!

seatedlib3991

@BlueSofa . What a singular and awesome accomplishment. To me that coin looks off the charts beautiful. Congratulations on your achievment. James

Coins3675

Nice!

lermish

@BlueSofa said:

@alefzero said:
Chopmarked Census
PCGS MS62 – unknown variety
PCGS AU58 – C-3
PCGS AU55 – C-3
PCGS XF45 – C-3
PCGS XF40 – C-4
PCGS XF40 – unknown variety
NGC XF40 Details – C-4
PCGS VF35 – C-1
PCGS VF35 – C-3

Find a chopped C-2. I have not seen the PCGS MS62 nor the second PCGS XF40 ones.

Returning to this post and the definitive chopped 1878-CC T$ census to report that I’ve recently acquired a raw example with one chop on both the obv and rev, and it is now in a PCGS AU Details (Cleaned) holder. I believe this coin puts a new tally on the census!

With this prize - one I never dreamed of holding and evidence that there are still rare and key dates out there in the wild - my chopped trade set is effectively complete, less the 75-P.

I saw all of my notifications and wondered what stupid thing I posted last night to get a response I'm much happier to find that the activity is for your very special addition. That is a giant coin for those in the know. Congrats!!!

golden

Congratulations.

InfantryColonel

Wow………not only wonderful news for you but an encouragement to your fellow TD collectors, be sure to send a note to the Chopmark Collectors Society.