How light is too light for a poor Trade Dollar?

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airplanenut
airplanenut Posts: 22,766 ✭✭✭✭✭
edited September 10, 2017 11:23AM in U.S. Coin Forum

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

JK Coin Photography - eBay Consignments | High Quality Photos | LOW Prices | 20% of Consignment Proceeds Go to Pancreatic Cancer Research

Comments

  • TLeverage
    TLeverage Posts: 259 ✭✭✭
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    @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
    CaptHenway Posts: 34,175 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    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.

    Professional Numismatist, Retired. 55 year member ANA. Former ANA Senior Authenticator. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and ANA Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner of the PNG's 2026 Robert Friedberg Award for "The Enigmatic Lincoln Cents of 1922," Available now from Whitman or Amazon.
  • AUandAG
    AUandAG Posts: 25,050 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Sounds like it's the real deal.

    bob :)

    Registry: CC lowballs (boblindstrom), bobinvegas1989@yahoo.com
  • Coinstartled
    Coinstartled Posts: 10,135 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    6% sounds right.

    Get up some pics when you can.

  • Crypto
    Crypto Posts: 4,098 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @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 :p

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

    11.5$ Southern Dollars, The little “Big Easy” set

  • MilkmanDan
    MilkmanDan Posts: 3,768 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    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
    Davideo Posts: 1,364 ✭✭✭✭
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    Because wear can be very uneven, I've never heard of weight being used as a determining factor in lowballs.

  • kaz
    kaz Posts: 9,378 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I weighed a barber quarter in similar condition, its weight is down about 8% by way of comparison.

  • DDR
    DDR Posts: 1,686 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Pirates, no doubt!

    David
    Complete Set of Chopmarked Trade Dollars
    Carson City Silver Dollars Complete 1870-1893http://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/showcase.aspx?sc=2722"
  • AUandAG
    AUandAG Posts: 25,050 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Here's a quite worn Morgan that weighs 8% or so less than when minted.
    bob :)

    Registry: CC lowballs (boblindstrom), bobinvegas1989@yahoo.com
  • ricko
    ricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    With wear such as you describe, 6% is certainly within range.... Cheers, RickO

  • WillieBoyd2
    WillieBoyd2 Posts: 5,410 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited May 22, 2024 7:08PM
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    I have this 1876-S trade dollar which is pretty worn.

    image
    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.

    :)

    https://www.brianrxm.com
    The Mysterious Egyptian Magic Coin
    Coins in Movies
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  • airplanenut
    airplanenut Posts: 22,766 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited September 17, 2017 10:02PM
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    Took a little longer than I anticipated to get photos, but I owe them to you...


    JK Coin Photography - eBay Consignments | High Quality Photos | LOW Prices | 20% of Consignment Proceeds Go to Pancreatic Cancer Research
  • kaz
    kaz Posts: 9,378 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    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
    TwoSides2aCoin Posts: 45,223 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    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
    ricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Wow.... that would certainly show significant weight loss....must have spent many years in someone's pocket... Cheers, RickO

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