When I was a professional coin grader, I saw chopmarked Trade dollars that had no sign of circulation wear. For all I know they arrived in China in original bags, were each examined and chopmarked by a banking house, and were placed back in original bags where they remained as bullion reserves before being shipped back to America. I don't know, I wasn't there. However, I have no problem calling them "Mint State-Chopmarked."
That said, I do not believe that any "Mint State-Chopmarked" Trade dollar should be graded higher than MS-60. There is, after all, significant damage.
Of course I understand that nowadays people want the grade to reflect the price of the coin and not the, you know, grade, but I am not going to lose any sleep over it.
TD
P.S.: As to the circumstances surrounding the sale and purchase of the coin, I have no problem with them.
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.
<< <i>Yah, I highly doubt it was him. For the record, someone has PMd me about their new ebay rip and stated that they won't post it because of this thread. So much for one of the fun things on this forum... >>
I don't think that's a big deal. People will crow about their rip if they really want to. If it's a rip that they wish to repeat (a honeypot of a seller, a dealer, a pawn shop, etc.) they may do well to keep it under their hat anyway. Up to them.
Comments
That said, I do not believe that any "Mint State-Chopmarked" Trade dollar should be graded higher than MS-60. There is, after all, significant damage.
Of course I understand that nowadays people want the grade to reflect the price of the coin and not the, you know, grade, but I am not going to lose any sleep over it.
TD
P.S.: As to the circumstances surrounding the sale and purchase of the coin, I have no problem with them.
<< <i>Yah, I highly doubt it was him. For the record, someone has PMd me about their new ebay rip and stated that they won't post it because of this thread. So much for one of the fun things on this forum... >>
I don't think that's a big deal. People will crow about their rip if they really want to. If it's a rip that they wish to repeat (a honeypot of a seller, a dealer, a pawn shop, etc.) they may do well to keep it under their hat anyway. Up to them.