Options
Chopmarked trade dollars are cool... this one has over 30!
airplanenut
Posts: 22,704 ✭✭✭✭✭
I posted this when I got it, but it's time for a repost 
AU details, slightly chopmarked. It is a CC
AU details, slightly chopmarked. It is a CC JK Coin Photography - eBay Consignments | High Quality Photos | LOW Prices | 20% of Consignment Proceeds Go to Pancreatic Cancer Research
0
Comments
Chicolini: Mint? No, no, I no like a mint. Uh - what other flavor you got?
--Severian the Lame
Awsome coin
">"http://www.cashcrate.com/5663377"
You might have thought that the 30th guy would have taken the first 29 guys’ word for it that it was real!
CHOP SUEY........
TorinoCobra71
My #1 Low Ball Peace Dollar Set
In the mid-1870s, the US began using the trade dollar for Oriental trade; it's larger silver content than the Mexican equivalent made it the money source favored by the Chinese. When the coins would get to a Chinese port, some would be tested to be sure they were genuine and had the stated silver content. The "seal of approval" of a batch was the chopmark. Each port had its own mark, and as you can see, this coin went to a lot of ports.
Jeremy
My #1 Low Ball Peace Dollar Set
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
That's freak'n awsome.
<< <i>For those asking about chopmarks...
In the mid-1870s, the US began using the trade dollar for Oriental trade; it's larger silver content than the Mexican equivalent made it the money source favored by the Chinese. When the coins would get to a Chinese port, some would be tested to be sure they were genuine and had the stated silver content. The "seal of approval" of a batch was the chopmark. Each port had its own mark, and as you can see, this coin went to a lot of ports.
Jeremy >>
Every source I've seen says the chop marks where made by individual merchants rather than ports. With more than 30 chopmarks, your coin would have entered and left china through the ports more than 30 times which is unlikely. I also read that there were two other types of chop marks: some merchants used small paper stamps pasted onto the coins and other merchants used ink to create their chops by drawing chinese characters onto their coins. Naturally these types of chops were less durable and were less likely to survive.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
<< <i>
<< <i>For those asking about chopmarks...
In the mid-1870s, the US began using the trade dollar for Oriental trade; it's larger silver content than the Mexican equivalent made it the money source favored by the Chinese. When the coins would get to a Chinese port, some would be tested to be sure they were genuine and had the stated silver content. The "seal of approval" of a batch was the chopmark. Each port had its own mark, and as you can see, this coin went to a lot of ports.
Jeremy >>
Every source I've seen says the chop marks where made by individual merchants rather than ports. With more than 30 chopmarks, your coin would have entered and left china through the ports more than 30 times which is unlikely. I also read that there were two other types of chop marks: some merchants used small paper stamps pasted onto the coins and other merchants used ink to create their chops by drawing chinese characters onto their coins. Naturally these types of chops were less durable and were less likely to survive. >>
The so-called "paper chops" were not to verify weight and fineness (as were the regular chops). From what I have read, paper chops were used on coins given as gifts (esp. for weddings and the like).
I have an 1875-CC chopped almost as badly as that one, and it's a type I/II to boot!
Obscurum per obscurius
San Diego, CA
<< <i>Very interesting coin, how did they test the silver content? >>
Most likely by weighing suspect coins vs. genuine ones. There are some coins with test cuts and drill marks to see if the coins were plated, but those are cruder testing methods.
Obscurum per obscurius
Stuart
Collect 18th & 19th Century US Type Coins, Silver Dollars, $20 Gold Double Eagles and World Crowns & Talers with High Eye Appeal
"Luck is what happens when Preparation meets Opportunity"
<< <i>Anyone have any of the actual chop punches that were used on these? >>
I haven't heard of anyone having any authentic punches. There was a dealer back in the 1960's who chopped common pieces to raise their value, and there are some doing it again these days. It would be hard to certify a punch, especially since they won't fit in a PCGS slab.
Obscurum per obscurius
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
Yummy!
I love chops!
PCGS MS62
I've heard of people using screw drivers (both philips and slotted) to create chop marks in a low grade common date trade dollar to increase its value. I've also heard about people who have high grade better date trade dollars with one or two chops expertly removing the chops by tooling or burnishing to create a more valuable coin.
There are no low grade common date trade dollars whose value could be increased by a screwdriver. And the days of removing chops to increase the value of a high grade coin are over as well.
Absolutely true. However, I have seen fake Trade dollars that have had chops added by a screwdriver or whatever, in order to make the Trade dollar appear genuine.
Complete Set of Chopmarked Trade Dollars
Carson City Silver Dollars Complete 1870-1893http://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/showcase.aspx?sc=2722"
<< <i>My, dem 74-CC's are common!
I've heard of people using screw drivers (both philips and slotted) to create chop marks in a low grade common date trade dollar to increase its value. I've also heard about people who have high grade better date trade dollars with one or two chops expertly removing the chops by tooling or burnishing to create a more valuable coin.
There are no low grade common date trade dollars whose value could be increased by a screwdriver. And the days of removing chops to increase the value of a high grade coin are over as well. >>
This did happen in the past before chopped trade dollars became respectable. Those coins are still out there and occasionally make an appearance in the market place. As I said once before, caveat emptor!
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
Like Jeremy's coin. I'm pretty sure the coin is a modern counterfeit. Those chopmarks don't look anything like what you would see on a real TD.
Jeremy, please look closer at your coin and tell us what you think.
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
Dunno - too beat to heck to tell. However, if you were gonna do that intentionally, wouldn't you leave the CC mintmark nice and clear?
Let us know when you figure it out!
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
<< <i>Hokay ...... here is one that I used to own. I purchased it for 10 bucks! And traded it for three $10 gold pieces. I wish I would have kept it
I was hoping you'd post that one. I remember shooting that for you a long time ago with film. Too bad you don't have it anymore, but it sounds like it didn't get away cheap.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
<< <i>I'm pretty sure the coin is a modern counterfeit
Dunno - too beat to heck to tell. However, if you were gonna do that intentionally, wouldn't you leave the CC mintmark nice and clear?
Both Jeremy's and Craton's trade dollars look good to me.
Obscurum per obscurius
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
Complete Set of Chopmarked Trade Dollars
Carson City Silver Dollars Complete 1870-1893http://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/showcase.aspx?sc=2722"
<< <i>
<< <i>Hokay ...... here is one that I used to own. I purchased it for 10 bucks! And traded it for three $10 gold pieces. I wish I would have kept it
I was hoping you'd post that one. I remember shooting that for you a long time ago with film. Too bad you don't have it anymore, but it sounds like it didn't get away cheap. >>
That's your pic that you took. I have it hanging on my wall. It was such a sweet coin and I really didn't want to get rid of it. The person who I traded with wanted it so badly and I know I could have gotten more for it but I knew he would give it a better home then I so I went ahead.
By the way, your pic is much better in person. From paper to scanner doesn't do it justice.
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.