How light is too light for a poor Trade Dollar?

airplanenut

I've got a trade dollar (sorry, no pictures at the moment) which is worn down to poor/fair condition. On each side, a significant amount of the design is fully worn away, and what remains is faint, though the date (1874) is readable. The edge is also smooth, save for some ghost impressions of reeding.

The coin weighs in at just over 25.5g, which is a little more than 6% underweight from the 27.2g listed weight. There isn't much to go on design-wise, so I'm wondering if the low weight is in line with a coin this heavily circulated. It looks like a long-time pocket piece. The diameter is right and it rings like silver.

Thanks,

Jeremy

TLeverage

@Crypto what do you think? If it's been in a fire, salt water, and possibly acid, can a significantly underweight specimen be considered genuine?

CaptHenway

When I was working in a coin shop, I once weighed a few batches of "slick" Barber and Morgan silver coins. They ran about 7% light.

AUandAG

Sounds like it's the real deal.

bob

Coinstartled

6% sounds right.

Get up some pics when you can.

Crypto

@TLeverage said:
@Crypto what do you think? If it's been in a fire, salt water, and possibly acid, can a significantly underweight specimen be considered genuine?

depends if pirates were involved

Jokes aside, I know the source and would bet 1000$ the coin is real.

MilkmanDan

There are a couple of FR02 trade dollars on GreatCollections right now, if you blow up the pictures you will see some well worn edges with what looks like no remaining denticles. Not sure what they would weigh.

Davideo

Because wear can be very uneven, I've never heard of weight being used as a determining factor in lowballs.

kaz

I weighed a barber quarter in similar condition, its weight is down about 8% by way of comparison.

DDR

Pirates, no doubt!

AUandAG

Here's a quite worn Morgan that weighs 8% or so less than when minted.
bob

ricko

With wear such as you describe, 6% is certainly within range.... Cheers, RickO

WillieBoyd2

I have this 1876-S trade dollar which is pretty worn.

United States Trade Dollar 1876-S
Weight 27.04gm, 99.3% of normal 27.22gm
Obverse Type 1, Reverse Type 1

I would grade this one as VF and it has lost almost one percent of it's weight.

airplanenut

Took a little longer than I anticipated to get photos, but I owe them to you...

kaz

yeah, I could see that as 6% underweight, LOL. I don't think I've ever seen one that worn before. The date area was well protected by the design.

TwoSides2aCoin

Great pocket piece, Jeremy. Looks like it escaped the Orient. A good specimen to carry, as a means to teach history and promote numismatics.

ricko

Wow.... that would certainly show significant weight loss....must have spent many years in someone's pocket... Cheers, RickO