Trade Dollar Made into a "Box"?

gmarguli

Today I saw part of a Trade dollar. It was supposedly made into a "box". It only had the obverse and it was VERY thin. It looked to have marks where hinges might have been.

How rare are these? Any idea on value?

oldcameoproofsguy

Trade dollars were used to smuggle opium from the Orient to America. I don't know the value but here is a LINKthat talks about these coins.

michael

yes they are somewhat common for opium but i think many have been made and popularized as such and many were made as to put photos in to be carried around they have collector value but the most valuable ones are the ones that still are intact and made in such a way where they work perfectly are not loose and have superb craftsman ship they usually range in price from 125 to 500 dollars or more for extra special ones like maybe the ultimate one would be a box trade dollar with a provanance from a person who had an opium problem and carried it as such with some original opium still in the hidden box and then it is so well made that it is almost undetectible to the eye apn works so smoothly when opened that the hinge is solid and not worn or loose and the workmanship is superb and also it is a trade dollar that was used the 1875s over cc or the78cc and the overall condition is superb along with the craftmanship is superb then i could see this one being worth thousands

go to the bowers and merena site they always have some for sale and in the last few years of the rare coin review they publish they hAVE HAD LIKE 30 for sale or more but now you only see the lower end doggy stuff with loose hinges and ind=ferior craftsmanship

maybe they have one currently for sale on their web page?
i do not know i never got into thses box dollars enough where i wanted to buy them i have seen many though even here where i live at a smaller once a year show!

sincerely michael

michael

also all important is the overall working mechnihsm and the condition of the hinge and how smooth the operation works in regards to opening and the closeing of the mechnism and how it keeps closed and if it folls a cursery glance to a disinteresated observer that is looks just like a not so special ordinary silver dollar sized coin!!

also since these coins were made into boxes and it was the end of the victorian era when the trades were in vogue for such many were used at cases for a charished family to be carried by a loved one in a safe place and as a pocket piece as many carried silver dollars as such

sincerely michael

braddick

I believe the opium angle is more myth and fantasy than reality. Tons of these were manufactured during the 1892/93 Columbian Expo and sold as a novelty.
They were used, like Love Tokens other than these now were equiped to hold a locket of hair or an photograph of the loved one.

Michael's right though, the tighter the coin "locks" together- and the better the overall workmanship, the more expensive the coin.

tradedollarnut

Absolutely, totally myth and fantasy - opium was legal in the US during the days the trade dollar circulated. So why smuggle it in?

I own an excellent box dollar. The inside setup is perfectly intact and awaiting a picture of my daughter!

shylock

Reminds me of the Harry Bass 1840 Large cent that was hollowed out to hold a 3-Dollar gold piece. To a copper guy, this is the ultimate insult! It does give a good indication of priorities back then, and why nice 19th century coppers are now so hard to find despite their mintage numbers.

boiler78

The October 28 issue of Coinworld has commentary on box dollars on page 38. There is also an interesting article on fake Trade dollars starting on page 2.

darktone

Greg if your looking for something odd take a look at this one. LINK mike

coinguy1

I saw one (which appeared to be nice and fully functional) trade dealer to dealer in St. Louis this past week for $250.

boiler78

In Bowers Wayne Rich sale this past March a Trade dollar box coin sold for $414 lot #3674. Lot #3673 a Morgan dollar box coin sold for $506.