| Author |
 Replies: 37 / Views: 6,664 |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
7840 Posts |
I am looking at a Trade dollar for my 7070 and there are numerous that have Chop Marks (some have alot and can be distracting). What do you think about them? |
|
|
|
Valued Member
United States
61 Posts |
i have a old spanish 1776, 8 real with chops, I like the history that it tells of the coins travels, through out its life, but I would not want one that was over marked
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
651 Posts |
At least the chopmarks give it character plus less chance of the coin being a Chinese counterfeit.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
8904 Posts |
I personally think a Trade dollar SHOULD have chop marks! I don't have a nice chop-marked Trade dollar but I am very interested in replacing my un-marked Trade dollar in my 7070:   for one with chop-marks. It shows the dollar was used the way the USA intended it to be used in commerce. I think it's a great way to show how these coins were designed to be used! Edited by Moe145
12/14/2011 10:47 pm
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1699 Posts |
I don't really see them as damage, but part of a coin's history, unlike a scratch or a rim ding. Some chopmarks look better than others though, so one still has to be selective.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1150 Posts |
You should check out the chop marked Trade dollar registry set (either NGC or PCGS)! |
|
Pillar of the Community
 United States
7840 Posts |
I wish ANACS would have some sort of registry like NGC and PCGS does.
|
|
Valued Member
United States
230 Posts |
I agree that a chop on a Trade dollar adds an undeniable historical touch to the coin. With a little patience you can find one with a few chops that impair the design only minimally. Just a couple decades ago a chopmark was about as welcome on a Trade dollar as a hole or someones name crudely carved in it. My first Trade dollar back in those days might have made it to VG-8. I took it to a show and a dealer gladly traded it even up for an AU with a couple well placed and interesting chops. There was once a Chopmark Collectors Club that I think has since fizzled out. Not for a lack of interest just not the critical mass to keep it going. Chops are fascinating and offer a wide range of collecting opportunities. |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
7840 Posts |
I find it surprising that there are some lofty grades (MS-65) with chop marks. They must have been pulled from circulation quickly because of the details, or...somebody is using their own to add character to an existing "unmarked" Trade dollar?  While some are just downright extreme...not to my liking.  A well placed chopmark is kinda appealing. Would you prefer the mark to be in the fields or the figure? Edited by oih82w8
12/15/2011 1:43 pm
|
|
Valued Member
United States
321 Posts |
I have some nice chop mark 8r and my 1799/98 Silver Dollar has a nice counter stamp on it. I like it anyway. I guess it boils down to what you like to collect- chop marks, counter stamps, holed coins. I don't focus too much on any of these but I do have samples in my collection.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1391 Posts |
I have an eight reales that saw heavy circulation in asia and was in a ship wreck and later recovered. (Judging by the damage it was probably underwater for sometime). I bought it for under silver spot. Originally I just got it for the silver content but it has grown on me over time. Knowing it has been all over China and Japan from the chop marks and seen the bottom of the ocean adds charactor in my book.
Edited by allranger
12/15/2011 11:39 am
|
|
Rest in Peace
United States
5375 Posts |
I see it personally as glorified damage...not too bad if its just minor, but still damage. Just my preference. I wouldn't want one in my album, but I don't think of it as horrible....I have some damaged coins in my Draped/Capped Bust Dime set because I can't afford mid grade coins that are problem free...at least not all of them. In that situation I don't mind damage (and in many cases I'll purposefully seek out lightly damaged raw VF/XF coins over slabbed G-VG), I just don't want it in my 7070 I guess. I'm finishing up payment on the 1801 I posted a link to awhile ago at last; that coin is XF details damaged or somewhere around there, and I'd much rather have that than a G coin.
Edited by coinguybrian
12/15/2011 12:10 pm
|
|
Rest in Peace
United States
10625 Posts |
For me, it would depend on the grade of the coins in the rest of the collection. One with chop marks might match up nicely with a mid grade circulated set. If it is a high end set with XF/AU and up examples, I would say no chops.
Just sayin.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1213 Posts |
Mine has a few minor chop marks and I like it that way.
As has been said previously, I think it adds to the history and authenticity of the coin.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
651 Posts |
The Chopmarks club is still around.
|
|
Valued Member
United States
426 Posts |
A few chops is always nice, but too many or when it warps the coin is not too appealing to me.
|
| |
Replies: 37 / Views: 6,664 |
Posted 12/14/2011 10:30 pm
