AllExperts > Experts 
Search      

Coin Collecting

Volunteer
Answers to thousands of questions
 Home · More Questions · Answer Library  · Encyclopedia ·
More Coin Collecting Answers
Question Library

Ask a question about Coin Collecting
Volunteer
Experts of the Month
Expert Login

Awards

About Us
Tell friends
Link to Us
Disclaimer

 
 
 
 
About PAPAJACK
Expertise
Knowlege of United States Coins from 1793 to date. Able to answer most common numismatic questions. Collected U.S. Coins from half cent to 50 dollar.

Experience

Experience in many areas
QUALITY CONTROL
United States Coin COLLECTOR/DEALER OVER 20 YEARS, U.S. COINS Worked trade shows,
EXPERT Consulting since 1990, Knowledge of all methods of fabrication used in the industry.
Hobbies:US notes, clocks, cars, computers, coins, liesure activity and crafts to name a few.

 
   

You are here:  Experts > Shopping > Coin Collecting > Coin Collecting > U S Oriental Trade Dollar

Topic: Coin Collecting



Expert: PAPAJACK
Date: 6/28/2007
Subject: U S Oriental Trade Dollar

Question
I have a Trade Dollar that my Grandfather brought back from China after the Boxer Rebellion and the story goes that all of them were supposed to have been melted.

I have had this coin over 60 years and have never found a dealer or anyone who knew anything about it.

It is all in Chinese except for:420 Grains. TRADE DOLLAR. 900 Fine. The other side is all Oriental designs.

Any info. you might furnish would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Wm. L. Kennedy, Sr.

Answer
Hello William,                       

Your library should have material on them. The United States Trade Dollar by John M. Willem is one book.

Many of them were indeed melted as they were redeemed here in the USA. Just as your coin would have been melted if you turned it in to the Federal Reserve Bank. Others circulated there and were traded with other countries by the Orient.

These coins were produced by the U.S. from 1873 to 1878 for trade in the Orient to compete with other countries coins being used there. They are heavier than the normal US dollar was and contained more silver (.7874 oz). They were produces in a much more limited issue from 1879 to 1885 for coin collectors.

Many of the coins that circulated there were counter stamped with Oriental characters called Chop=Marks. They are valued lower than a non-chop marked coin by most collectors.
Every time a vendor assayed the coin they would use their mark to signify it had the proper weight and purity for the transaction. Yours must have been circulated there a longer time if it has the face obliterated.

Please remember to rate this answer at the bottom of this page. And check the nomination box on the rating page below any comments you may have.

Thank You and Good Luck

PapaJack

p.s.
Here are the images of what the coin looked like:
http://aycu12.webshots.com/image/20011/2006209605148111904_rs.jpg
http://aycu04.webshots.com/image/18123/2006232784017701711_rs.jpg

Add to this Answer    Ask a Question



  Rate this Answer
   Was this answer helpful?
Not at allDefinitely              
   12345  

     
About Us | Advertise on This Site | User Agreement | Privacy Policy | Help
Copyright  © 2008 About, Inc. About and About.com are registered trademarks of About, Inc. The About logo is a trademark of About, Inc. All rights reserved.