PCGS Certifies New Example of the Rare 1878-CC Trade Dollar with Chop Marks
BlueSofa
Posts: 33 ✭✭✭
As of late 2025, the PCGS Pop Report for the Chopmarked 1878-CC Trade Dollar - a key date in both the unmarked and chopmarked series - was just eight. In recent months, however, it appears a ninth example has been certified with a numeric grade and tallied in the census. CoinFacts displays an image of the following XF45 example on the 78-CC Chopmarked page , which I believe corresponds to this ninth and newest example in the pop report:
Upon inspection, this coin has at least three standout red flags to me:
1- The mintmark placement does not match any one of the four known varieties (credit to alefzero for the following image) 
2- The chop marks are consistent with the style known as 'Spanish chops' characterized by a particularly flat, even, and thick/bolded style, often basic characters. Many chop mark specialists consider the marks of this style fake or forgeries. WTL has documented these extensively to aid in identification: https://www.reddit.com/r/ChopmarkedCoins/comments/1r42ls4/recent_sale_1874cc_united_states_trade_dollar/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button
3-There is no reciprocal damage from the obv chops onto the rev, and vice versa. The extent of reciprocal damage varies extensively on chopped coins and is usually not a determiner of authenticity (for chops and host alike). But in combination with the other issues here, to me, it is notable.
What do others think of this coin and its chops?
Comments
@lermesh
Whoops!
I mean, @lermish
Perfect analysis @BlueSofa I'm in total agreement. No notes.
chopmarkedtradedollars.com
My first impression of the image before I read any of your comments was that it didn’t look real
Sorry, two notes. This also appears to have the IIM type 2 reverse rather than the IIL type 2 reverse.
and here is the TV with cert:
chopmarkedtradedollars.com
Hmmm...I'm not sure about this coin. A couple of points...
1) There are five known reverse dies associated with the 78-CC (not four) (thanks to Brian Koller). All five are married to he same obverse die. All five are Type IIL Reverse Dies. I was planning on writing up the fifth die in the next Gobrecht Journal but haven't gotten around to it yet. Due to the rarity, the dies of the 78-CC have been pretty well vetted. The fifth die is almost the same as one of the prior four dies so it's not surprising that it was missed.
3) The obverse is not the same as the die that is typically seen on 1878-CC coins...so this would also be a new Obverse die.
Based upon the small number of 78-CC coins minted, a single obverse married to five reverses always made some sense. Seeing a new obverse and a new reverse die doesn't seem that likely.
I'm not 100% sure, but I lean strongly towards the "not a genuine" 78-CC coin.
Best, keoj
I’m not an active collector of trade dollars, but I almost always read the threads about them due to the thoughtful, organized analysis provided by the consortium of experts here. I can feel the passion.
Thanks for another opportunity to learn.
My opinion of these chops is unchanged; when you see them, they are essentially only on coins that show exclusively this style of chop. You could make the argument that it's a regional enclave that produced this style, but based on the repetition of marks across multiple hosts, the consistent presence of small marks (highly unusual on a US Trade Dollar), and in particular the careful style all indicate to me that these are forgeries; the die analysis from @keoj only reinforces this belief for me. The most worrying element is how many different dates have been documented with this style of mark, and now apparently rare dates are no exception, with a level of detail apparently good enough to convince the TPGs. It's indicative of an advanced counterfeiting operation, but one that puts most of its effort into the host rather than the chopmarks.
contemporary?
The other Trade Dollar and chopmark experts have already weighed in with more detailed analysis, but I'll add my 2 cents worth... I've seen those same/similar chopmarks before on a variety of Trade Dollars; my conclusion is always the same: fake. Fake chopmarks make me suspicious of the underlying coin as well, and Keoj's analysis backs up my bad feelings about that coin.
Complete Set of Chopmarked Trade Dollars
Carson City Silver Dollars Complete 1870-1893http://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/showcase.aspx?sc=2722"
@PCGS_Hy @pcgs_education @pcgs_social Please see the above. Can anything be done about this problematic coin?
chopmarkedtradedollars.com
Thank you, all. And thank you @lermish for the bump! Our Grading Room is aware of this coin and is looking into it as we speak!
Isa (she/her)
PCGS Marketing
Cert is currently invalid. Good job PCGS addressing this quickly.
chopmarkedtradedollars.com
Wow! Echoing that!
Double wow!! Great job by all!
mbogoman
https://pcgs.com/setregistry/collectors-showcase/classic-issues-colonials-through-1964/zambezi-collection-trade-dollars/7345Asesabi Lutho
Agreed. I wonder what steps might be taken in order to try to get the coin back and removed from the holder?
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
Impressive scholarship, folks. Very educational.
I'm sure the OP and others who provided some really detailed insight don't expect anything in return, but I think a few grading vouchers could easily be kicked their way as a thank you.
Well done, Blue Sofa, Keoj, Lermish and others!
Complete Set of Chopmarked Trade Dollars
Carson City Silver Dollars Complete 1870-1893http://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/showcase.aspx?sc=2722"
The raw 78CC below sold on eBay about a month ago and appears it may have came off the same counterfeit dies without chops as the reverse is a type 2M and the CC position appears to be the same.
There is some very solid information on this old thread from @stealer
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/899612/new-prevalent-1878-cc-trade-dollar-counterfeit-tpg-certified
Many of the pics will still work if you right click and open in a new tab but @kaz was kind enough to link to a flickr album that is still operational
https://www.flickr.com/photos/99394108@N05/albums/72157636682684565/
chopmarkedtradedollars.com