Chop Marks On 1856 Mexican 8 Reales

To the best of my knowledge, Japan did not use the system of Chopmarking regularly. In fact, Japan produced a silver Trade dollar in 1875 for use in China, the same as European and Western countries were doing. They occasionally contain a countermark, but "Chopmarks" are rather a Chinese invention and method of detecting counterfeit coins.

The marks look Chinese to me, but the coin seems to have been very worn after they were made.

When Mexico declared independence from Spain, their silver trade pieces became the preferred coinage in China, as the old Spanish 8 Reales had been before them. You can find a great selection of the Mexican pieces with Chinese chops! I have the intention of putting together a collection of chopped coins, from as many different varieties of coins as I can.

Archaz, I picked this gorgeous coin up today, in fact. The coin is a Mexican 8 Reales 1884/3 overdate. It's very heavily chopmarked, but that makes it all the more beautiful to me. The legends are clear; all the lettering is legible! There are two more similar coins just like it at my dealer, I just didn't have the cash to pick them up today. One of the coins is so chopped that it is splitting down the middle. I sure hope it's there in a week or so!

ElleKitty- thanks for the info and for showing me that 8.

gxseries- I thought that they did. Is there any way to determine what the cops on my coin may indicate?

gxseries- thanks for the info and the links!

Colin, I think that would be fantastic! I'm very interested in Chopmarked coins and have a small collection. I'm still learning, so if there is anything you can add I'm listening eagerly!

I suggest you read Frank Rose's 'Chopmarks' available at Scott Semans [ http://www.coincoin.com/bkCC.htm#CHOPMARKS ] for $12:50. The pictures are pretty bad but the information is good. Unfortunately, if you live outside of the USA postage is now quite expensive as there is no longer sea or surface mail.
A search through the various auction houses [Heritage, Bowers & Merena, etc.] will give you some price information especially for US Trade dollars. I'm currently putting together a word file with all the chopped coins that have been sold [and are listed on the internet]. I can post or email this list once it's finished.
I'm also going to the Hong Kong coin show at the end of August. It's the premier show for Chinese coins in the world. It should be prime hunting ground for chopmarked coins. I'll let you know what I find.
I'd like to hear from other collectors out there. I know growing up in Canada I never even heard of chopmarked coins. I can't ever remember seeing one for sale. But there's really a fascinating area of numismatics.

Hello group
What a gret topic. I have collected mexico 8 reales (Pillar, Portrait and Cap and Rays) since 1975 and have encountered literally hundreds of chop marked coins. Over the years, like ElleKitty, I put some aside because they were interesting but didn't realize the extent of the collector base for these coins. (I used to be able to buy them at a little above melt as "damaged coins" but no longer). I have some that look like the obliterated Cap and Ray of ElleKitty above and others with a single sharp/distinct chop or large counterstamp. When I joined the local coin club a few years back, I met a fellow collector with an awesome collection of coins that are chopped, he is always looking for a different type. Another very interesting aspect to this incredible hobby

A couple of good sites to visit are: http://www.chopmarks.com/ and http://www.sycee-on-line.com/Chopmarked_coins.htm . I'll try and post some pictures if I can find the time.