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1859-S Seated Dollar newp
MilkmanDan
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Thanks to @stealer for pointing this one out to me, was able to pick this up for a fraction of what chopmarked seated dollars usually go for (they are very rare with Chinese chopmarks). The reverse graffiti is unfortunate, but the coin is well-traveled and wouldn't have graded anyway.
Apparently the chopmark symbol is "mountain". I couldn't decipher anything interesting from the graffiti, to me it looks like THOeSl.
Anyone else have a seated dollar with chopmark, or have seen one?
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Here's a close-up of the chopmark
Congrats, Dan, great coin for your chopmarked set. I love the patina on that one!
I like it, thanks for sharing it.
Yes some of them were shipped
to China. I saw an 1872-S Seated
dollar with a number of chopmarks
on both the obv. and rev.
There are those coins that are rare for what they are and what they historically capture. Some coins have traveled in commerce and served a purpose that simply cannot be captured in a slab. Some coins such as the one which so happens to be the subject of this thread is in a league of its own.
Congrats... This coin is an amazing piece of history.
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
I don’t think the graffiti detract in the least. Well driven cars have door dings. That is great, wonder how many collectors have ever owned two chopped 59-s seated dollars
11.5$ Southern Dollars, The little “Big Easy” set
An awesome pickup; the 1859-S $ deserves distinction as the first crown-sized coin issued by the US for foreign circulation, and its low mintage only adds to the allure. This is only the third example that I have seen with a chop, one other already in the collection of @OriginalDan, but another with a single chop across the eagle's right wing that I haven't seen outside of the catalog of the great Hal Walls collection.
Nice low mintage coin with lots of personality. Good find. Edit to add @stealer did you a great favor.
Thanks for sharing her with us. This is only the 2nd 59s I’ve seen with a chop. Graffiti sucks but beggars can’t be choosy. When there is only 3 known... To own 2 of them is an awesome accomplishment. Congrats!
Very nice pickup! Unfortunate about the graffiti on the back, but what can you do? Chops werent appreciated for probably over 100 years!
Minor Variety Trade dollar's with chop marks set:
More Than It's Chopped Up To Be
Use of 1859-S dollars in various Chinese ports is documented in diplomatic letters among other places.
I think a board member has written an article about this subject....Please step forward when you name is called.
Congratulations, Dan! I love that coin, even with the graffeti. I am jealous.
Complete Set of Chopmarked Trade Dollars
Carson City Silver Dollars Complete 1870-1893http://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/showcase.aspx?sc=2722"
This is from a write-up in a Stack-Bowers auction several years ago on a non-chopmarked example:
Alone among San Francisco Mint Liberty Seated dollars of the No Motto type, the 1859-S is an isolated issue most examples of which were produced for a single purpose. Of the 20,000 pieces struck in total, the first 15,000 coins delivered were intended solely for export. Indeed, the San Francisco-based firm of Bolton, Barren & Co. acquired 8,985 of these coins for use in the China trade. Those examples that went overseas -- 75% of the mintage -- were invariably lost through melting. Fortunately for today's collectors, the additional 5,000 pieces making up the total mintage were retained stateside and released into circulation on the West Coast.
Complete Set of Chopmarked Trade Dollars
Carson City Silver Dollars Complete 1870-1893http://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/showcase.aspx?sc=2722"
Perhaps a love token: THO & SI
Nice coin... I have always been interested in chopmarked trade dollars...I have Rose's book as well... Cheers, RickO
Very cool piece. Congrats to you for getting it. Stealer is a great friend for pointing you to it as well.
Very cool!
mbogoman
https://pcgs.com/setregistry/collectors-showcase/classic-issues-colonials-through-1964/zambezi-collection-trade-dollars/7345Asesabi Lutho
Don't need 2 of them, but also enjoy holding them side by side. In case anyone is interested though, let me know. I'm not a hoarder and know how to share.
Thanks for posting this David.
To me the 1859-S dollar is the "first United States Trade Dollar". I wish more had survived from melting, with chopmarks to certify they fulfilled the intended purpose.
Roger, if you can point me to any of those letters I'd love to read them.
RWB
United States Consulate
Hong Kong 10-September, 1859
Sir:
In reply to the communication of the Treasury Department, dated April 1st, 1859, in relation to the
difference in the currency of this
place, as compared to that of the
United States, I beg to state...
I have received some of the new
coinage of silver dollars from
San Francisco, and have had them
tested by my Compradore, who informs me they will pass current here, if the Chinese in the interior
can be induced to take them, but
that it will take several years to
introduce them.
I am sir
Very respectfully
Signed James Keenan
U.S. Consul
First Trade Dollar
Numistmatist Jan 2017
(The Mexican dollar won the trade
war against the Seated dollar)
Yes....That's the article I was thinking of.
Here are low resolution PDFs. These are part of my database and not posted anywhere on-line. Let me know when you have them so I can delete the files from PCGS and not take up space. I've omitted the consular letter regarding St. Petersburg.
PDF files removed.
Thanks @RogerB, I have them now so you can remove them if you'd like. I look forward to reading through them, and thankfully the handwriting looks decent.
Out of curiosity, why not include the letter re. St. Petersburg?
Here's the St Petersburg letter.
Thanks Roger. Do you already have all of these transcribed? If not, I'll take a stab at them.