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 Replies: 37 / Views: 6,668 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1374 Posts |
Great question! The Trade dollar is one of the few coins I need for my type set, and I've actually been searching for an AU dollar WITH chop marks, but not over the top. I'm hoping it will save me a few bucks, but like others have mentioned I think it is an important part of the coin's history. A fantastic touch, I would say. :P |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
7840 Posts |
I missed out on a PCGS AU-58 with one Chop Mark on the left shoulder last night. My computer froze up, running too many programs at once (I guess).  The search continues!  Edited by oih82w8
12/16/2011 3:47 pm
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Valued Member
United States
297 Posts |
I specifically bought mine with chop marks back in the late 1980's when the ANA show came to town when I was a kid as I thought it added character to the coin.   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1374 Posts |
Nice coin! I found a nice trade with a chop at the last show. Figured I would share, too.   Edited by Drsandman2
12/22/2011 11:31 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1704 Posts |
Quote:
I think it adds to the history and authenticity of the coin.
A person must not assume that if a Trade dollar has one or more chop marks it is an authentic coin. The Trade dollar is the most counterfeited U. S. coin and some of the counterfeits have been chop marked to try to make them less suspect. An 1874-CC Trade dollar I owned had three chop marks on the obverse and one on the reverse, a dealer I was showing my 7070 album to said he really liked the coin and I asked him what he would pay for it as he had an MS-63 1880-CC Morgan dollar, price $525.00, I was very interested in. He got the Trade dollar and $100.00 cash and I got the 1880-CC. I had paid $150.00 for the Trade dollar. What I didn't notice until I got home was the 8 over 7 in the date. It turns out the coin is a VAM-6 8 over low 7 and is worth about $600.00. Now I need to find another Trade dollar for my 7070 album and I will probably get another chop marked piece.   I need to take new pictures of this 1880-CC Morgan dollar.   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1801 Posts |
I like coins with chop marks, they add character to the coins. And for the record the Chop MArk Club is alive and well.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1745 Posts |
I too am looking for a Trade dollar for my 7070. I can go either way, chop or not. But would not want one which is overly "chopped". |
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Valued Member
United States
230 Posts |
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the Chop MArk Club is alive and well Do you have any info on that, jfransch? I have found the website chopmarks.com but there is little sign of any activity. I was a member back in the early years but it just seemed to fade away. |
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Valued Member
United States
230 Posts |
Oops! Make that chopmarks.org....
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1757 Posts |
Chopmarks usually translate to simple sayings like Be Happy, Good Luck, etc... some are distinctive to merchants as they pass through their hands obviously as an authentication mark of its silver content for the locals in and around this merchant. A friend of mine at work married a Malyasian woman ... he can translate these marks ... some he can't ... the merchant ones ... John Lorenzo Numismatist.
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Rest in Peace
United States
9104 Posts |
We bought a nice 1876s the other day with two chops. One looks like a reindeer, and the other like a stick figure.
Years ago, we got one that looked au, and almost missed the chop, a "T" that blended in with the bricks.
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Valued Member
United States
230 Posts |
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A few chops is always nice, but too many or when it warps the coin is not too appealing to me. Is this what you meant, RealPeso?  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3755 Posts |
Holy mackerel! Thats an ashtray, right? Here is VACookeys chop trade. We both like chops. 4 or 5 max before it makes the coin truly damaged.  |
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Valued Member
United States
155 Posts |
14ers, I actually like that coin. I want one just like it!
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Valued Member
United States
230 Posts |
When I bought the coin years ago at a flea market it was about half full of some foul gradoo that I had to soak out. So it might actually have been an ashtray at one time! I have just kept it as an example of extreme chopping. Sad thing is the host coin is an 1874 Japanese Yen. With a mintage of 942k it would be quite a pricy item if it had a few hundred fewer chops.
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Replies: 37 / Views: 6,668 |
First Page
Posted 12/15/2011 11:52 pm
