1856 s Seated half w/ Chops

jayPem · January 8, 2013 2:57PM

Just arrived...the third chopmarked seated half I've been able to find of late.
Pretty nice XF looking details..although the cleaning looks worse in these close ups than in hand, it's heading for an envelope for awhile.
I've got a happy little run of these going....now if I could just find a 55 !

stealer · January 8, 2013 2:59PM

Those are cool.

Now find quarters and dimes with chops!

Meltdown · January 8, 2013 3:58PM

Definitely has some serious character, too bad about the cleaning.

DDR · January 8, 2013 4:02PM

Interesting. Almost all chopmarked Seated halves I have seen come from the San Francisco mint, which makes sense. But what I wonder is why do chopmarked Seated halves almost always have only one or two chops, while Trade dollars often have dozens of chops?

stealer · January 8, 2013 4:08PM

<< But what I wonder is why do chopmarked Seated halves almost always have only one or two chops, while Trade dollars often have dozens of chops? >>

I would guess that it has to do with the thickness of the coins. I would guess that even one chop will severely rupture the metal on the opposite side of the chop, and also cause significant bend to the coin, whereas a Trade Dollar's thickness could probably bear the weight of a few light chops in the same area without rupturing.

EVillageProwler · January 8, 2013 7:54PM

Jay,

Check out the 55-S in this thread: Thread ATS

I'm posting from an iPad, so not easy to extract the URL of just the image.

EVP

Justacommeman · January 8, 2013 8:07PM

<< Jay,

Check out the 55-S in this thread: Thread ATS

I'm posting from an iPad, so not easy to extract the URL of just the image.

EVP >>

Here you go Jay and EVP. MJ

messydesk · January 8, 2013 11:21PM

<< But what I wonder is why do chopmarked Seated halves almost always have only one or two chops, while Trade dollars often have dozens of chops? >>

The chop marks were put on coins as an approval of the weight. The trade dollars were heavier (contained more silver) so that they'd be accepted in the Orient, so they'd accumulate chop marks as their weight was approved. An 1855 Seated Liberty half weighs considerably less (by over 1 gram) than half of a trade dollar, so it never should have been accepted in the first place as such. The chop marks, in this case, are a sign that someone got had.

tradedollarnut · January 8, 2013 11:59PM

steelielee · January 9, 2013 12:18AM

Nice stuff, like those chops!

jayPem · January 9, 2013 12:40AM

<< 

<< But what I wonder is why do chopmarked Seated halves almost always have only one or two chops, while Trade dollars often have dozens of chops? >>

The chop marks were put on coins as an approval of the weight. The trade dollars were heavier (contained more silver) so that they'd be accepted in the Orient, so they'd accumulate chop marks as their weight was approved. An 1855 Seated Liberty half weighs considerably less (by over 1 gram) than half of a trade dollar, so it never should have been accepted in the first place as such. The chop marks, in this case, are a sign that someone got had. >>

This makes sense...I have one with three chops, but most I've seen have just one.

jayPem · January 9, 2013 12:41AM

<<

Those are cool.

Now find quarters and dimes with chops!

>>

That would be something.
Anyone have a seated dollar with chops ?

sniocsu · January 9, 2013 2:23AM

Very cool!

jayPem · January 9, 2013 3:00AM

<< Jay,

Check out the 55-S in this thread: Thread ATS

I'm posting from an iPad, so not easy to extract the URL of just the image.

EVP >>

My goodnes EVP, I'm floored ! That is a super cool coin in many different ways !
One question for you...what, if any, value would be added by chops on such a coin ?

EVillageProwler · January 9, 2013 4:48AM

<< 

<< Jay,

Check out the 55-S in this thread: Thread ATS

I'm posting from an iPad, so not easy to extract the URL of just the image.

EVP >>

My goodnes EVP, I'm floored ! That is a super cool coin in many different ways !
One question for you...what, if any, value would be added by chops on such a coin ? >>

No clue. It's safe to assume that the chops reduced its value. The coin is slabbed UNC details by our host. Imagine how expensive this coin would be if it were graded a regular MS62?

Barberian · February 12, 2013 8:35PM

I'd consider the rims as well as the chop marks. The rims look gnarly to me.

1856 s Seated half w/ Chops

Comments

Leave a Comment