Chopmarked trade dollar Set Registry?!

shirohniichan

I saw tradedollarnut's business strike, proof, and chopmarked trade dollar collections at the PCGS table today in Long Beach. Yowza!! The 1878-S had the best looking obverse I've ever seen (I didn't see the reverse).

I was stunned to see the chopmarked trade dollars in PCGS slabs. When I asked if PCGS would slab chopmarked trade dollars a few years ago, I was told they do not certify "damaged and altered" coins. I'm glad to see they've changed their minds. Will chopmarked trade dollars now be seen as "acceptable," or will they stay on the sidelines as "weird"?

All in all, I'd say being able to see tradedollarnut's collection was well worth the price of admission to the Long Beach show. Too bad the lighting was so bad. If anyone is going, definitely take the time to stop by and see the set.

Mrpawn

If I understand the PCGS news flash on the home page correctly I will be sending some in with my next submission. Mine cannot compete with any high end ones but they are fun to have and use to teach the kids history.

clw54

If PCGS starts a chopmark registry set, won't that drive the price up? And if that happens, people will be hammering Phillips screwdrivers into good Trade Dollars to increase the price.

KlectorKid

Clw if a un-chopped one is worth more then a chopped one even if the prices increase so why add chops and wreck the price? Although i m sure already chopped trade dollars would gain a bit in price.

keoj

I spoke to TDN on this, its a step in the right direction...now if I can only get PCGS to recognize Type I/II obverse and reverses, I'd be happy. B&M, Heritage, Stacks, Superior all list Trade Dollars by types now, but I've been unsuccessful getting PCGS or NGC to recognize them.

keoj

shirohniichan

Yea, verily. More collectors are recognizing the relative scarcity of type I vs. type II obverses and reverses, so PCGS would be doing everyone a favor by distinguishing between the two. OK, so they wouldn't be doing me a favor when I'm in cherrypicking mode, but they'd be doing sellers a favor.

tradedollarnut

Here's an image of the nicest of my chopmarked trade dollars:

satootoko

Japanese 416 grain silver ¥1 coins also circulated as trade dollars, and wound up being chopmarked. Here are the Obverse and Reverse of one which picked up an unusually large number of chops. (There are also 420 grain Japanese coins designated "Trade Dollar" instead of "One Yen")

I tried posting the images directly, but they were too small to appreciate the unique features of this coin, which unfortunately I don't own.

dorkkarl

<< <i>they [pcgs] do not certify "damaged and altered" coins >>

chopmarked trade-dollars are neither damaged or altered, imo. the chopmarks occured as a result of the intended environment for the coins.

amazing how the market cycles. 25 years ago, chopmarked dollars were shunned as damaged, ugly rejects. you could get 'em dirt cheap.

i'm glad to see them get the respect they deserve. i hope pcgs will not insult collectors by making them into a registry set

K S

DDR

I have mixed feelings about this. On one hand I'm glad to see that chopmarked Trade dollars are starting to get some recognition and are not being treated like "damaged" coins. On the other hand, since I collect them I'm afraid that it will drive the prices up on this quiet little segment of the hobby.

Shiroh, are you going to slab yours and start a registry set?