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Holy chopmarks! (1855-s half dollar)

rheddenrhedden Posts: 6,632 ✭✭✭✭✭
in U.S. Coin Forum
This is one of the most chopped up coins I have ever seen. The funniest thing about it, however, is that someone decided to re-engrave the details in Liberty's gown and the shield in between the chops, as if it would make a difference in the coin's value at this point. LOL.


link to 1855-s auction

Comments

  • tradedollarnuttradedollarnut Posts: 20,197 ✭✭✭✭✭
    IMO, that's been engraved with a message. Those aren't chop marks in the way that trade dollars are chopped
    Early Dollar Set
  • commoncents05commoncents05 Posts: 10,096 ✭✭✭
    I don't think they are chops. There is no damage visible on the reverse, I think it was actually engraved.

    -Paul
    Many Quality coins for sale at http://www.CommonCentsRareCoins.com
  • SonorandesertratSonorandesertrat Posts: 5,695 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>I don't think they are chops. There is no damage visible on the reverse, I think it was actually engraved.

    -Paul >>



    image
    Member: EAC, NBS, C4, CWTS, ANA

    RMR: 'Wer, wenn ich schriee, hörte mich denn aus der Engel Ordnungen?'

    CJ: 'No one!' [Ain't no angels in the coin biz]
  • crypto79crypto79 Posts: 8,623 ✭
    Funny this the nicest chop marked seated half I ever saw was a 1855s with a clear chop in a PCGS unc details holder. It is a brilliant toned coin and very nice
  • CaptHenwayCaptHenway Posts: 32,669 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>IMO, that's been engraved with a message. Those aren't chop marks in the way that trade dollars are chopped >>



    image
    Numismatist. 50 year member ANA. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner numerous NLG Literary Awards.
  • messydeskmessydesk Posts: 20,270 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>IMO, that's been engraved with a message. >>


    Might not even be that, but a problem (or fake) coin that's been retooled (look at the shield and Liberty's gown) and then had random chopmarks engraved to hide the issues.
    John
    Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
  • messydeskmessydesk Posts: 20,270 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Another irony is that real "chop marks" indicated acceptable silver weight. The arrows at date halves are about a gram lighter than those produced earlier without arrows. In 1855, those chop marking coins for acceptable weight would have rejected this one.
    John
    Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
  • DDRDDR Posts: 1,622 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I have a Liberty Seated quarter with kind of similar Chinese engraving. I bought it on eBay about 10 years ago as a chopmarked quarter, but upon examination you could tell it had been extensively engraved, not chopped. Unfortunately, I can't access it at the moment, otherwise I would post pics.
    David
    Complete Set of Chopmarked Trade Dollars
    Carson City Silver Dollars Complete 1870-1893http://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/showcase.aspx?sc=2722"
  • PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 46,778 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Can someone here provide us with a translation?image

    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

  • stealerstealer Posts: 4,029 ✭✭✭✭
    Not chopmarks, they are separate dashes that make up characters.
  • LALASD4LALASD4 Posts: 3,602 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Can someone here provide us with a translation?image >>



    They are just random charactors, some are not a charactors at all, and simplified charactors did not exist at that time.
    Coin Collector, Chicken Owner, Licensed Tax Preparer & Insurance Broker/Agent.
    San Diego, CA


    image
  • LindeDadLindeDad Posts: 18,766 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>IMO, that's been engraved with a message. >>


    Might not even be that, but a problem (or fake) coin that's been retooled (look at the shield and Liberty's gown) and then had random chopmarks engraved to hide the issues. >>



    image Also will add that notice the difference in wear on the Obverse and Reverse.
    image
    My Current project....https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/mysetregistry/album/160794
  • mrpotatoheaddmrpotatoheadd Posts: 7,576 ✭✭✭
    You want chops? Here you go...

    image
  • JJMJJM Posts: 8,088 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>IMO, that's been engraved with a message. Those aren't chop marks in the way that trade dollars are chopped >>



    agree
    👍BST's erickso1,cone10,MICHAELDIXON,TennesseeDave,p8nt,jmdm1194,RWW,robkool,Ahrensdad,Timbuk3,Downtown1974,bigjpst,mustanggt,Yorkshireman,idratherbgardening,SurfinxHI,derryb,masscrew,Walkerguy21D,MJ1927,sniocsu,Coll3tor,doubleeagle07,luciobar1980,PerryHall,SNMAM,mbcoin,liefgold,keyman64,maprince230,TorinoCobra71,RB1026,Weiss,LukeMarshall,Wingsrule,Silveryfire, pointfivezero,IKE1964,AL410, Tdec1000, AnkurJ,guitarwes,Type2,Bp777,jfoot113,JWP,mattniss,dantheman984,jclovescoins,Collectorcoins,Weather11am,Namvet69,kansasman,Bruce7789,ADG,Larrob37,Waverly, justindan
  • MrEurekaMrEureka Posts: 24,403 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Can someone here provide us with a translation?

    It reads "PCGS would not grade me because I was cleaned. Let's see what they think now!"

    Granted, my Chinese is not perfect.
    Andy Lustig

    Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.

    Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
  • PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 46,778 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I wonder if the engraving was recently done to create a "rare and valuable collectible"?

    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

  • MsMorrisineMsMorrisine Posts: 35,532 ✭✭✭✭✭
    did anyone save the pictures?
    Current maintainer of Stone's Master List of Favorite Websites // My BST transactions

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