Chop Marked 1884 Morgan Dollar
Coins4Eli
Posts: 25 ✭✭
Hello fellow forum members! I picked up this Morgan from the junk silver bin at my LCS. It appears to have a chop mark on the obverse, there is a chance that the mark could just be damage, but I just want to be sure. I know that there are some books specifically on chop marks and was hoping one of you may happen to have one. If this mark is well known and has been seen documented on other examples it would validate mine. Also, does anyone know the time frame in which dollars were being used for trade with the Orient? Any and all opinions/comments welcome, thanks everyone! 
Member of Early American Coppers (EAC), American Numismatic Association (ANA), and Missouri Numismatic Society (MNS). Specializing in early American copper by die variety.
Comments
I think it's possible but unlikely that that is a genuine chop mark. I give the chop a D+.
US dollars and random minors circulated minimally in the Orient from the late 1700s but became significantly more common once the trade dollar began being minted in 1873. There are some known chopmarked Morgans but they are quite scarce. There are several claimed chopmarked Peace dollars but at this time I don't believe any of them are indisputably chopped.
I strongly recommend @ChopmarkedTrades book By Weight, Not by Coyne: An Introduction to Chopmarked Coins https://a.co/d/ajfu7ed if you would like a little bit more info. It's very approachable, well written, and contains a wealth of knowledge.
Chopmarked Trade Dollar Registry Set --- US & World Gold Showcase --- World Chopmark Showcase
When I blow up the so-called chop I do not set straight cuts of a chop being chopped but rough edges as if someone previously carved the letter into the coin, but what do I know
I agree with @lermish, I don't think this mark is very likely to be a genuine chop, the tapering edges and sharp angles don't stylistically match most of the chopmarked hosts that I've encountered.
Genuine chopmarked Morgan Dollars are relatively rare, so the burden of proof is relatively high to declare that an example has a genuine chop.
I've seen similar before and I can't say for sure whether it is a legitimate chop mark (as we currently define it) or not.
What makes me doubtful, though, is that it is not just on a Morgan Dollar, but a P mint Morgan. Chopmarked Trade Dollars mostly come from the S or CC mint, not Philadelphia.
Complete Set of Chopmarked Trade Dollars
Carson City Silver Dollars Complete 1870-1893http://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/showcase.aspx?sc=2722"
Just for fun since you mentioned it, here is my chopped 84-P Morgan.
(with a similar chop to this C&R for reference😉)
Chopmarked Trade Dollar Registry Set --- US & World Gold Showcase --- World Chopmark Showcase
The OP posted his coin on Coin Talk Forum. Most over there say it is not a chop.
I've looked at many thousands of Chinese chopmarks, it's a passion of mine. The OP coin doesn't look like a Chinese chopmark. More directly, I'd say it's not.
Thanks everyone for the replies! I got pretty much the same consensuses over on CT.
I had a fun time doing research, and learned more about chop marks. I would say the day was well spent!
Member of Early American Coppers (EAC), American Numismatic Association (ANA), and Missouri Numismatic Society (MNS). Specializing in early American copper by die variety.