When was the last chop mark made?
Weiss
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I know it's a little darkside, but I think our chop experts tend to gravitate to US pieces.
I thought I'd seen this discussion here before, but I couldn't find it researching past threads.
It seems like it's a matter of the culture of chopmarks as well as the availability of coins which could be chopped.
The use of chops or punches was in (perhaps slow) decline by the early 20th century and came to a definite end no later than Mao's emergence and his appetite for iron and steel (which I believe is one of the reasons few if any authentic punches remain today).
At the same time, the number of new large silver coins worthy of chopping likely came to an end, possibly in part because of the great depression, in the late 1920s and early 1930s. For example, China released the two year Sun Yat-Sen "Junk" dollar series in 1933 and 1934. Similarly, we (the US) concluded the Peace dollar release in 1935 and would never really release another silver "crown".
Interestingly, America struck 30 million 1934-dated of these Junk dollars in 1949. So, theoretically, a chopmarked 1934-dated Sun Yat-Sen Junk dollar could have been chopped as late as 1949--or even later.
I picked up this 1933-dated Junk dollar from NEN just now because it was the latest one I'd seen. What's the latest, "authentic", genuinely of the era chopped silver piece we know of?
--Severian the Lame
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Probably a few days ago when someone in China thought they could pass it off on some American collector as being authentic. Unfortunately, this isn't intended as a joke.
Chinese merchants still put their own little ink marks on today's $100 bills, usually on the back.
It is done on the same principles, and for the same reasons, as old-timey chopmark on coins.
There was a short discussion of this subject in March 2017.
Title: Who has the latest Chinese chop marked silver coin?
http://forums.collectors.com/discussion/977143/who-has-the-latest-chinese-chop-marked-silver-coin
Supposedly the last year that Chinese merchants put chopmarks on coins was 1935 when China abandoned the silver standard and stopped making silver coins.
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Thanks, man. That's what I was looking for. Very cool that this was still a thing deep into the 20th century.
--Severian the Lame
When I travel overseas it is very common to get U.S. $100 bills that have been "chop marked." Usually, it is a tiny ink stamp on the reverse, near the edge or in the corner. I've handled $100 bills with multiple small ink "chop marks."
Complete Set of Chopmarked Trade Dollars
Carson City Silver Dollars Complete 1870-1893http://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/showcase.aspx?sc=2722"
I did not know about the 'chop marked' $100 bills... interesting...has anyone found one in circulation here in the states? I will watch for this.... Cheers, RickO
My black belt certificates all have chop-marks. They are a form of credentials, like a wax seal on an envelope.
I have definitely had several 'chop marked' $100 bills here - almost always coming to me through numismatic business.
This is slightly more elaborate than what I have encountered, but it is similar:
Yes, that's what I am taliking about, Bill Dugan.
Complete Set of Chopmarked Trade Dollars
Carson City Silver Dollars Complete 1870-1893http://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/showcase.aspx?sc=2722"
I have many times. They're more common that you'd think.
@Shamika..... wow... I probably have or had one and never knew it... will check my bills today.... Cheers, RickO