Chop Marked Trade Dollar
Hi all,Been absent for a while, Ive been engaged in other hobbies a bit, to help keep me busy during this Covid business. At any rate just got this, purchased from eBay. Ive always wanted a chop marked trade dollar that was heavily used and had a history demonstrated by its wear and marks. I was looking st a MS 61 chop dollar to purchase but wasn't willing to pay more than it was worth because it my view how can a chop dollar be graded MS 61 when it has been circulated as evidenced by the chop mark?? Am I wrong in this view?RegardsDougPS iPhone photo ergo sideways. LOL
Comments
Jackson14
Level 4
Awesome trade dollar!
Doug S.
Level 4
Jackson..Thanks! Took a while to find one I liked. Regards Doug
thatcoinguy
Level 5
Nice chop marks!
Doug S.
Level 4
Thanks Ive always wanted one. The story behind them is very cool
user_36221
Level 3
Hmm weird
Doug S.
Level 4
how so?
CoinCollector7777
Level 5
Nice coin, I've always wanted a Trade dollar.
Doug S.
Level 4
Thanks. Me too especially one with chop marks!
CentSearcher
Level 5
Well, uncirculated doesn't necessarily mean it wasn't in circulation. A coin can be pocket change for years and still get a MS61 grade. And I think the chop marks are really neat. As Oobie says, it adds character to the coin. Scratches and wear tells a story. Thanks for the update!
Doug S.
Level 4
CentSearcher, Thanks for the comment. I did not know that, I thought MS meant uncirculated. Learn something new everyday. Regards Doug
Kepi
Level 6
That's a beautiful coin! I love these old Trade Dollars and all of the history they have. ; )
Doug S.
Level 4
Kepi, Thanks and I agree, love them. Regards Doug
World_Coin_Nut
Level 5
In my opinion, Trade Dollars are some of the most historic coins. I need to get a chopmarked one. I think it would complement my collection very well.
Doug S.
Level 4
WCN, I agree completely. I looked for years before I found one I really liked. Great conversation starter too! Regards Doug
A.J.
Level 4
very neat coin there.id love to get one like that someday, the fact you can know its been across an ocean is amazing.
Doug S.
Level 4
AJ. Thanks for the comment. Yes the history and physical evidence of it is what intrigues me! Regards Doug
user_15275
Level 2
Trade dollars are awesome coins with lots of history. Thanks for sharing!
Doug S.
Level 4
Thanks , I agree. Thanks for your comment! Regards Doug
"SUN"
Level 6
Just think where this coin has traveled.
Doug S.
Level 4
Yes..Its amazing isn't it Regards Doug
It's Mokie
Level 6
A lot of Trade Dollars were placed in mint bags, thrown on a ship, then banked in China. The chopmarks would be applied to uncirculated coins by the banking house or merchant that received the bags and would then be paid out gradually or just sit around. A dollar was a lot of money in China at that time. So the question becomes, should any mutilated coin be considered uncirculated? Of course it would have a Details grade and there are plenty of Uncirculated Details coins on the market. Most uncirculated chopmarked trade dollars have very few chops but some were traded from merchant to bank to merchant to bank again while still nominally uncirculated and managed to accumulate several chops. I personally prefer a chopmarked trade dollar with some honest wear. VF is optimal IMHO since the coin still retains most of its detail while displaying its historical chopmarks to good advantage.
Doug S.
Level 4
Thanks Mokie, for the information. I wasn't aware of that! Very cool. The coin I was looking at was MS61 graded by PCGS. It surprised me and did not make sense to me. I agree with your grading preference for these. Regards Doug
CopperCollector
Level 4
cool i think you are right i'm pretty sure you can't grade a circulated coin MS61. Really nicel coin.
Doug S.
Level 4
Thanks! Just doesn't make sense in my view. Regards Doug
Mike
Level 7
Doug, great coin. And for a coin that old and rare a great grade also. I have one with no chopmarks. I want one with chopmarks. Some say the that's the place we did I business with. Some say it's a message of thanks . Anyway it's a great pickup. It's nice to get a coin you always wanted. Glad your back stick around we missed ya!!
Doug S.
Level 4
Hey Mike, Thanks I appreciate that! I actually have looked for one of these for years. Hope you are well. Regards Doug
TheNumisMaster
Level 5
Very nice coin! I need some trade dollars for my collection! Hopefully soon! Be safe out there, Doug! See ya 'round!
Doug S.
Level 4
Thanks!! Ive been looking for one like these for years. Clearly worn and clearly marked! Regards Doug
Golfer
Level 5
Really nice coin. I don't have any trade dollars, but might just look around for one. I agree, why get an MS61 that has chop marks. How can it have multiple chop marks and be MS61? You have a nice one. I may explore this area of collecting. thanks and welcome back !
Doug S.
Level 4
Thanks Golfer!! I was curious about the grade thought. It seems I was thinking correctly. I just don't get how it could be MS. Ive looking for one like this for years. Clearly worn and marked. Regards Doug
Stumpy
Level 5
That is one sweet coin. Thanks for sharing, later!
Doug S.
Level 4
Thanks Stumpy! Regards Doug
Longstrider
Level 6
That's a real nice one in a good grade. I seem to like VF-XF coins. Honest wear. I agree with you. How can a MS coin have chop marks. Good thing I'm not a grader. Thanks.
Doug S.
Level 4
Longstrider I agree. I was willing to go so far but the price got stupid really fast. As I go along I seem to prefer circulated coins more, since they do have that history and mystery about where they might have been. As apposed to a MS that has spent its life protected in some way. Regards Doug
CoinHunter
Level 5
That is a beautiful coin! Nice pickup!
Doug S.
Level 4
Thanks. Waited a long time to get one of these! LOL
Mr. B Coins
Level 4
Very cool coin. And it looks like it comes with its own history. Thanks for sharing. Stay Safe, Mr. B
Doug S.
Level 4
Thanks Mr. B! Regards Doug
I. R. Bama
Level 5
I agree, wouldn't the appropriate highest for a coin that circulated be like AU 58? I don't know what your coin grades out as, but isn't it a great coin to own? I think so..... It's interesting to try to identify chop marks. I had what I call mild success in researching them. It was fun trying!
Doug S.
Level 4
Thats what I was thinking., AU58 on the one I was looking at. This one I did acquire is VF 30. Thanks Regards Doug