Pricing Chop Marked Trade Dollars

tmot99

Is there a published price list for chop marked trade dollars? I've been looking but can't find anything.

Even if there is a guide, such as 3-4 steps down on grading, that would be good to know.

Placid

Some are worth more than others because of the specific chopmark or number of chopmarks.
Look near the bottom of this page.
I never heard of a price guide for them.

coinguy89

I would pay more for the chops.

Louis

<< <i>I would pay more for the chops. >>

JrGMan2004

I think it's kinda like Uber Toned Morgans. Depends on the location of the mark, the mark itself, and the number of marks. I'd rather have a cool lookin mark in the field in front of Ms. Liberty, than a mark that was done on the devices.

KlectorKid

Chop marks...

coinguy89

<< <i>

<< <i>I would pay more for the chops. >>




>>



I think it adds to the history of the coin, it all depends on how many chops and where there located. I don't have too much interest in this series to buy any, anytime soon.

100proof1957

does PCGS ignore chops for grade ?

KlectorKid

They put it on the label.

tmot99

The reason I ask is that I have an 1874-CC that PCGS graded MS62. It's a shame that there are many chop marks on it. I'm going to work on a picture tomorrow when I have the day off and can work with daylight.

It would be nice to know a value.

Placid

Link

KlectorKid

Ouch. That kills the coin for me.

Conder101

Some coins, especially circulated, may be worth MORE with chops. For example the 78-CC. In a recent Numismatic News article it was claimed that none are known and that collectors of chopped pieces would very interested in one if it turned up. (The article is incorrect though about one thing, they do exist as I have seen at least two different pieces. They are correct though about collectors paying a premium for them.)

tradedollarnut

A while back, I attempted prices for chopmarked trade dollars on my website:

Chopmark Prices

This is about 3-4 years old now, so it's a bit out of date. This was before PCGS started assigning grades to the coins, so it was my own grading style. Note that for the purpose of the numerical grade, PCGS ignores the chopmark and grades the balance of the coin. This creates much disparity between coins in the same grade level, as some chopmarks are more desirable than others, as are certain placements. For instance, I kept my AU58 1877 over the MS60 that I sold because the chop was a relief chop in a good location.

I believe that there are actually about a dozen 1878-CC chopmarked trade dollars known. And there are very few, if any, trade dollars worth more with chops than without. And I expect that when more coins are graded that even those will level out.

Here's another 1874-CC with a single chop obverse and reverse. It's the finest chopmarked trade dollar of any date I've ever seen. It's graded PCGS MS64:

Option1

I have one with well over 30 chops front and back. I'll bring it home on monday and try to take a pic. I priced it higher but I have know way of know it's true value until it sales.

DDR

TDN's pricelist on his website is an excellent place to start if you are trying to price chopmarked Trade dollars. Heck, the whole site is great. There are about 9-10 chopmarked 78-CC's known, so TDN's estimate of about a dozen in existance is probably correct.

In general, I've found that for the common dates you can knock down the price one grade level if the coin is attractive and there are only a few chopmarks, and two grade levels if there are a lot of chopmarks. For the rarer ones this general formula does not hold, prices are all over the place. (And if you have rare date chopmarked Trade dollars, PM me, I'm always looking to add to my collection!)

291fifth

Since the chop marks could easily be faked I don't see any reason to regard them as anything but a form of mutilation. In my opinion chop-marked trade dollars should be worth less than those without the marks.

BigD5

I recently sold an 1877-s ANACS unc details chopmarked, net fine/12 (I'd love to know the formula for netting a chopmarked dollar. ) The coin had 5-6 chops, obv. and rev.

Sold for $280 or so on Ebay.

A dealer offered me $300 for that coin a year or so ago, but I passed. I was always on the fence with this coin, to keep, or sell.

Finally moved on.

topstuf

NGC BB'd a chopmarked pillar dollar I sent in for "damage"

Idiocy.

And it was ONE chop, toned like coin, maybe 1mm in size. Probably less.

Chopmarks are evidence of actual USE of ......TRADE......dollars.

EVillageProwler

Does anyone know if any of the top 3 services will grade a chopped coin other than PCGS with Trade Dollars?

I'm asking because I actually have a key date Seated coin (pre-dates the TD series) with one obv and one rev chopmark in a near condition census grade. At that grade level, it would be worth a lot of money...

EVP

Shamika

<< <i>I would pay more for the chops. >>



You know, I would too. It ADDS to the numismatic value in my opinion.

DDR

EVP,

ANACS will grade chopmarked coins, but will net grade them, e.g. "AU Details, Net VF 20 chopmarked."

I believe PCI will grade chopmarked coins as well, but you'd probably not put them as one of the top three grading services.