Selling Trade Dollar patterns for fun and profit.

RogerB

The following letter is well known among Trade Dollar specialists, but general collectors might not be aware of it. Notice that director Linderman authorizes selling pattern pieces at $3 each and using the profits to pay for the dies. (He doesn’t say which dies – did he mean only the various patterns or the eventual regular issue coins?)

Linderman’s order in paragraph 4 that no more copper versions be made, was soon forgotten and his office regularly received copper impressions of proposed designs. He also approved sending copper examples to those who requested them.

[RG104 entry 235 vol 001 pp.142-143. Volunteer transcription: thank you!]

"June 3, 1873
James Pollock
Superintendent, US Mint
Philadelphia

Sir,
In reply to the inquiry contained in the concluding paragraph of your letter of yesterday as to supplying pattern pieces. I have to state that I approve of your suggestion as to the pattern pieces adopted. That is to say, it will be placed in the regular proof set for the year. As to the other specimen pieces of the Trade dollar, I can see no objection to furnishing applicants with them at say $3.00 currency for each piece. They must, however, be struck in silver, and according to standard, both as to fineness and weight.

It is probable that the sale of these pieces would be sufficient to reimburse the expense of getting up the dies, and at the same time gratify the public.

I have therefore no objection to having pieces struck from all the experimental dies which have been proposed for the Trade dollar, and supplied to all persons who may apply for them; but this business must not be permitted to interfere with the regular operation of the mint.

I have particularly to request that no specimens of these dies be struck in any metal or alloy other than standard silver, and that this instruction may be strictly observed, my request made some time since to be furnished with impressions in copper of all new dies prepared, is withdrawn.

The rule to be observed is that, with the exception of the necessary impressions sent to this office, and such as may be proper for preservation in the cabinet, no pieces will be struck except in the metal in which the coin is issued and which shall be as readily obtained by the public as by officers and employees of the government.

I am respectfully,
H.R. Linderman,
Director"

ricko

Is there any way of telling whether all such copper impressions still exist in some collection(s)? Or are they lost to the ravages of time and fortune? Cheers, RickO

RogerB

From preliminary research into sale and distribution of restrikes and pattern pieces, it appears that a large proportion of copper pieces exist (in varying conditions). Most of these have been dispersed over the last 150 years and tracing them back to the original owners - with a few exceptions - seems impossible.

This is just my informal opinion.

TennesseeDave

If one could only go back in time................

boiler78

I know where one is.......

tradedollarnut

Oh my. I want that

RogerB

Yep. Nice Trade dollar.

ECHOES

@tradedollarnut said:
Oh my. I want that

Oh my, if it only said 'Sample'

Beautiful example

BStrauss3

@RogerB - how much did it cost in those days to make a die (pair)?

Director Linderman clearly expects the profits - roughly $2/coin, netting out the silver value of the blank - to cover them, but he doesn't see this as a money maker for the mint. So that gives us a rough estimate of the number of pieces he expected to sell.

BuffaloIronTail

I learn something new every day.

Pete

RogerB

The most commonly seen cost for a die was about $25....or $50 for a pair. That's what was charged Hawai'i in 1884 for 10 pairs of dime dies.