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 Replies: 17 / Views: 2,549 |
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Pillar of the Community
Hong Kong
1270 Posts |
This coin is one of my most precious collections. I am sorry that I can't take a better picture for it. I admit I have to practice more in later postings. I like this forum because I can meet a lot of people who are so knowledgeable and have a great passion on numismatics. Studying foreign crowns which were used in China at the time frame of mid-18th to the whole 19th Century is one of my prime interest. This US Trade dollar is one that want to share with you all. I always have a question in my mind: this coin contained a higher silver content than those of Carolus dollars and "Cap and Rays" dollars and issused by a big country but why couldn't it replace the above two Trade dollars in China from 1870s onwards. I know one of the reason was this Trade dollars could only be used in Asia and could not be circulated in US and America. Were there more reasons to support the failure to substitute the overwhelming Mexican dollars in China? I hope you can give me some ideas....    About this coin: I bought it by HK$1,800.00 in HK 2007. 38mm and 27.21 grams. Edited by wonghinghi
07/06/2012 03:33 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3184 Posts |
What is the mintmark? A S or ? I can't tell and are you sure its real? I see your from hong kong, many chinese fakes. I would only buy NGC OR PCGS slabbed coins
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Pillar of the Community
France
1591 Posts |
Actually, before buying one of those there, also check there certificate online : they also make fake slabs :p
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Pillar of the Community
 Hong Kong
1270 Posts |
100% real; mint mark 'S'   Hope these two pictures clearer. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5854 Posts |
I think one possible reason could be they were more familiar with the Mexican dollars since they had be using them before the U.S Trade dollar. I am just curious if there is a "shelf" right next to the denticles above Liberty's head. Also, are the denticles above States of are the same length. It just appears that some of them are a bit longer than some of the other denticles. I am just not sure if they are part of the coin or just an artifact of the pictures. It could be genuine but given your proximity to the source of many counterfeits of this type, one needs to be careful. |
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
I've taken the liberty of moving this thread to a more appropriate audience. Quote:I think one possible reason could be they were more familiar with the Mexican dollars since they had be using them before the U.S Trade dollar. This is likely the case. Inhibiting the matter was the reticence of the Chinese public to accept new and unfamiliar designs; the introduction of the Trade dollar was actually rushed somewhat because for that same reason Mexico was about to issue a redesigned Peso similar to the old design which had been changed. Another factor was that as silver production in the US ramped up, the intrinsic value of silver went down and American interests found Trade dollars to be profitable, as their face value exceeded their bullion value. So, many Trade dollars were reimported. Regarding the coin here: I won't express a firm opinion as to authenticity based on relatively-small images, but there are certainly no obvious signs of a counterfeit. Furthermore, if I were going to expect to find an original coin of this type in the Orient, Hong Kong would be where I'd start looking. Extremely well-bought at the price, if real. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
14454 Posts |
I see SD has already said it but from the pictures provided I see nothing that would make me believe it is a fake Trade dollar. When it comes to these types of coins you really have to pretty much look at it as a fake and then check it to diagnose it as not one instead of the other way around because there are so many counterfeit Trade dollars out there. When you couple that with your country you live in I hope you understand why some of the members on here are hesitant to give an opinion on authenticity especially with some of the good counterfeits that are coming from your homeland borders. Its real hard to give a definitive answer on authenticity with the pictures provided but I do not see any of the things I look out for on counterfeits I have seen before |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
36741 Posts |
Like SSuper said it looks real in the poor photos but no way to tell for sure from them. What strikes me odd is the fact this coin was found over there with no Chinese chop marks on it. It does appear to be harshly cleaned.
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Moderator
United States
16679 Posts |
Nothing is jumping out at me screaming fake. I'm inclined to believe it's genuine.
swcoin.ecrater.com
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
Quote:
What strikes me odd is the fact this coin was found over there with no Chinese chop marks on it. Don't lose track of Hong Kong's size or economic importance; I'm no more surprised that a high-quality American coin would surface there than I would be in London, Paris or Berlin. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1796 Posts |
Aye some higher-res photos would be a major help.
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Pillar of the Community
Hong Kong
1270 Posts |
Hello, I have to go to work today so I will give you more pictures tonight. Hong Kong can be a good place to buy trade coins of various types in the last two centuries but they became very rare as the people of mainland China getting very rich, they come back to buy what they sold several decades ago. I bought a (high grade) fake of this type before this genuine one and will also submit a few pictures to you for comparison. Best wishes to all.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
The Mexican pieces were more familiar, and I believe they were also a higher fineness. 902 or 903 instead of 900 fine
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Pillar of the Community
Hong Kong
1270 Posts |
Yes, SD you are right, the intrinsic value of silver went down... So the Act of July 22 1876 was issued... Do you know what this Act had done? I find that in 1877 there were still very large number of Trade dollars struck in 1877 and 1878. Did the Act of July 22 1876 stop Trade dollars as the legal tender statue or something that I don't know... 3 more pictures of the same coins but greater magnification.    Of course I know there are so many fake of this type of coin. I bought one in 2004-05 by HK$300 in HK also. This is a high grade counterfeit and let you see in the following post. |
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Pillar of the Community
Hong Kong
1270 Posts |
The follwong coin was bought by HK$300 in Hong Kong. The chop is totaly wrong and it is thinner than the real one (see the last picture). The weight is 26.62 grams and 38+mm.   The upper piece is real, the lower is the counterfeit.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3184 Posts |
this is the reason one should buy slabbed or buy from well known members or dealers. Scary!
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Replies: 17 / Views: 2,549 |
Posted 07/06/2012 05:36 am
