Chop dollars MS?? or AU++++

Keyrock

David,

With the certification of the Trade Dollars with Chop marks is the MS designation really possible? I know some coins have been certified as such, however, I would think as soon as a coin has a chop, it would lose the MS potential due to the distortion on the coins surface, or the obstruction of a pick up point. Have the MS designated coins been chopped in the open fields and therefore no obstruction to the images?

Regards, Rich

homerunhall

Since we designate the chop, we grade the coin as if it doesn't have the chop. If we didn't designate the chop, then it would of course be a negative, or no grade. People collect chop mark Trade dollars and the ones without no wear, only chops, we call Mint State.