Will this coin CAC? 1874-S Trade $1 (ANA Coin #1) **RESULT POSTED 3/15/25**

P0CKETCHANGE

_result posted in comment _

Another coin show, another CAC submission, another poll. Vote below the photos; all comments welcome.

TennesseeDave

I have no experience with CAC, but know a little about Trade $'s. The coin looks accurately graded but I'm not seeing much luster, but like the overall look of this coin. I don't know what JA looks for so I'm not voting, but it looks like a nice original coin to me. Good Luck.

lermish

Yes, Green CAC

I will defer to more expert graders and numismatists on almost every topic but, I would wager that I have more experience submitting chopmarked T$s to CAC than anyone since Bruce Morelan sold his set. I was looking at the pop reports yesterday and I am responsible for something like 15-20% of the total population of stickered chopped trade dollars.

That coin absolutely has the look of a CAC chopped T$. The surfaces are all there. The only variable is if it is a solid 58. Looking at it closely, there may be a touch too much wear for a solid 58. That being said, I still vote yes.

MFeld

No, it won't pass

@lermish said:
I will defer to more expert graders and numismatists on almost every topic but, I would wager that I have more experience submitting chopmarked T$s to CAC than anyone since Bruce Morelan sold his set. I was looking at the pop reports yesterday and I am responsible for something like 15-20% of the total population of stickered chopped trade dollars.

That coin absolutely has the look of a CAC chopped T$. The surfaces are all there. The only variable is if it is a solid 58. Looking at it closely, there may be a touch too much wear for a solid 58. That being said, I still vote yes.

I don’t have quite as much experience as you in submitting chopmarked T$’s, as I’m responsible for exactly 0% of the total population. 😉
I voted “No”, due to what appears to be muted luster and my thought that the coin looks more like a 55 (or perhaps a just make it 58). Either way, it’s still a nice looking example.

pursuitofliberty

Yes, Green CAC

I'm 50/50, but think it might due to originality and the fact I think the luster may be enough from the images. It's a liner from what I can tell, and if it fails I believe it'll be just because it is not a strong enough as a 58. I like the coin, quite a lot.

BillJones

No, it won't pass

I would not buy it as an AU-58 because it's too dull. CAC has given beans to pieces I would not buy, but generally I think that they want an AU-58 with more eye appeal.

lermish

Yes, Green CAC

@MFeld said:

@lermish said:
I will defer to more expert graders and numismatists on almost every topic but, I would wager that I have more experience submitting chopmarked T$s to CAC than anyone since Bruce Morelan sold his set. I was looking at the pop reports yesterday and I am responsible for something like 15-20% of the total population of stickered chopped trade dollars.

That coin absolutely has the look of a CAC chopped T$. The surfaces are all there. The only variable is if it is a solid 58. Looking at it closely, there may be a touch too much wear for a solid 58. That being said, I still vote yes.

I don’t have quite as much experience as you in submitting chopmarked T$’s, as I’m responsible for exactly 0% of the total population. 😉
I voted “No”, due to what appears to be muted luster and my thought that the coin looks more like a 55 (or perhaps a just make it 58). Either way, it’s still a nice looking example.

There are few threads that will fit my niche more perfectly than this one

As mentioned, the grade is my only concern. I would bet a lot of money on a pass if it was in a 55 holder.

I have a handful of uber-original coins like this that appear to have muted luster but come to life under a lamp. They routinely pass BUT as 50-53s. These are all stickered coins,

(This one is a 58)

4Redisin

No, it won't pass

I agree with the grade but not attractive enough for a sticker. Now I'll read the thread.

4Redisin

No, it won't pass

@lermish said:

@MFeld said:

@lermish said:
I will defer to more expert graders and numismatists on almost every topic but, I would wager that I have more experience submitting chopmarked T$s to CAC than anyone since Bruce Morelan sold his set. I was looking at the pop reports yesterday and I am responsible for something like 15-20% of the total population of stickered chopped trade dollars.

That coin absolutely has the look of a CAC chopped T$. The surfaces are all there. The only variable is if it is a solid 58. Looking at it closely, there may be a touch too much wear for a solid 58. That being said, I still vote yes.

I don’t have quite as much experience as you in submitting chopmarked T$’s, as I’m responsible for exactly 0% of the total population. 😉
I voted “No”, due to what appears to be muted luster and my thought that the coin looks more like a 55 (or perhaps a just make it 58). Either way, it’s still a nice looking example.

There are few threads that will fit my niche more perfectly than this one

As mentioned, the grade is my only concern. I would bet a lot of money on a pass if it was in a 55 holder.

I have a handful of uber-original coins like this that appear to have muted luster but come to life under a lamp. They routinely pass BUT as 50-53s. These are all stickered coins,

(This one is a 58)

Now I see why you posted that the OP's coin may not be a 58. Your coins have much less wear and more luster. Oops, I went back for a look to ask you a question and then post a challenge and see that I was wrong -again. They all looked AU-58 to me with less wear than the OP coin but only one of yours was graded AU-58.

Challenge: See PM

cmerlo1

No, it won't pass

I see too much wear and not enough luster.

oldabeintx

No, it won't pass

Too much wear for sure and lacks luster. Also, take a look at her right arm. I don’t think it would sticker as a 55.

Copperindian

Yes, Green CAC

It has the look of a 58 that also appears undisturbed. Nice example, although I don’t know much about Trade dollars.
The luster does bother me a little, but with good lighting may appear better than the pics (which are still good, btw). Hard to know, but I’m pulling for the OP.

oreville

No, it won't pass

I voted no. That being said….. it is nice as a XF-45 to AU-53.

A cursory look….. did not see the chopmark(s) . Oh, I found it on the reverse only.

MFeld

No, it won't pass

@oreville said:
I voted no. That being said….. it is nice as a XF-45 to AU-53.

A cursory look….. did not see the chopmark(s) . Oh, I found it on the reverse only.

@oreville said:
I voted no. That being said….. it is nice as a XF-45 to AU-53.

A cursory look….. did not see the chopmark(s) . Oh, I found it on the reverse only.

XF45 and AU50 should be out of consideration.
Here’s a picture of each:

Walkerfan

No, it won't pass

Toning doesn't look original. Also, I see no underlying luster.

Baylor8670

No, it won't pass

@P0CKETCHANGE said:
Another coin show, another CAC submission, another poll. Vote below the photos; all comments welcome.

PCGS charges 3% for conservation and that includes a grade guarantee.

VanHalen

No, it won't pass

Not at 58. I bet it would at 53 and maybe 55. I like the look but the luster & eye appeal aren't quite what CAC would need to see at 58. As always ymmv.

alaura22

Yes, Green CAC

It will be close as I feel it has enough meat for a 58

DDR

No, it won't pass

Unlike @lermish, I am not number 1 in submitting chopmarked Trade Dollars to PCGS, but I bet I am in the top 10! What I have learned over the years is that grading chopmarked Trade Dollars can be a crapshoot. That said, the coin in question has a bit too much wear for my tastes to be a 58. But I could be wrong.

lermish

Yes, Green CAC

@DDR said:
Unlike @lermish, I am not number 1 in submitting chopmarked Trade Dollars to PCGS, but I bet I am in the top 10! What I have learned over the years is that grading chopmarked Trade Dollars can be a crapshoot. That said, the coin in question has a bit too much wear for my tastes to be a 58. But I could be wrong.

Just CAC submissions, you've got me at PCGS I think The real PCGS submission leaders are the people buying from the Chinese excavators though, I've seen some pretty massive runs of sequential cert numbers!

4Redisin

No, it won't pass

@lermish said:

@DDR said:
Unlike @lermish, I am not number 1 in submitting chopmarked Trade Dollars to PCGS, but I bet I am in the top 10! What I have learned over the years is that grading chopmarked Trade Dollars can be a crapshoot. That said, the coin in question has a bit too much wear for my tastes to be a 58. But I could be wrong.

Just CAC submissions, you've got me at PCGS I think The real PCGS submission leaders are the people buying from the Chinese excavators though, I've seen some pretty massive runs of sequential cert numbers!

Those coins would be corroded from the ground though, right?

coinkat

The better question would be whether one prefers a coin with surfaces like this... with the chopmarks or a CAC sticker?

I will choose this or one with these characteristics more often over a CAC sticker.

Nice coin and I would not lose sleep over the CAC question with this coin. It is a keeper.

P0CKETCHANGE

Yes, Green CAC

The final forum tally:

Result: ✅ Yes, Green CAC

The forum majority (60%) was skeptical of this one, but she returned home with a bean.

I bought this coin because I've never owned a chopped Trade, and thought it was cool with superb originality, and I believed it had a strong shot at earning CAC approval, as my Trade type coin has a similar look.

After seeing some of the comments here, I felt a bit less confident as I can understand the reasoning for a 55 grade, but CAC seems to really like the surfaces like this and I'm glad she made the cut. @lermish nailed it IMO.

This is now a stickered Pop 2 for the chopped 74-S in AU58, with 7 coins higher.





Vote on the other coins in this submission here:
1870 Seated $1 (ANA Coin #2)
1924 Peace $1 (ANA Coin #3)
1875 20c (ANA Coin #4)

P0CKETCHANGE

Yes, Green CAC

@oldabeintx said:
Also, take a look at her right arm. I don’t think it would sticker as a 55.

I didn't want to respond while the voting was ongoing (so as not to sway the voting one way or the other), but the disturbances on Liberty's arm are a consequence being on the opposite side of the chop mark.

coinkat

Excellent

lermish

Yes, Green CAC

Congrats! I'm pleased for you but not surprised with the result.

Here is my previous 74-S (formerly AU55 CAC; now CACG AU55, the first CACG holdered chopped T$) and current 74-S (MS63 CAC)