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 Replies: 16 / Views: 9,340 |
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New Member
United States
10 Posts |
Thoughts on Chop marked Trade dollars? Do the chop marks significantly decrease the value? I think these are interesting and wouldn't mind picking one up. But I've read they are faked often. Do the images below look like a legit coin?   |
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Rest in Peace
United States
17900 Posts |
Trade dollars are one of the most counterfeit coin types. I personally would never buy one without NGC or PCGS approval, even though most fakes can be easily identified with some education. There is nothing wrong with original trade marks. Some even collect them specifically.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Agree with these comments. Indeed, valid chopmarks lessen the value considerably, especially where there are multiple imprints as here. Don't buy one raw, and don't pay much even in a legitimate holder.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4468 Posts |
The coin does look genuine, but may have been cleaned. As noted, best to buy in TPG holder. I like PCGS as they straight grade Trade dollars with chop marks. NGC Details all chop marks. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5822 Posts |
Looks genuine, but as stated it may have been cleaned. I like Trade dollar chop marks coins, there are story and history to it. |
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
Quote:
Do the chop marks significantly decrease the value? They go both ways. They can increase the value and they can decrease the value. Key dates with chops or top grades get hurt generally as those buyers want unchopped coins, but rare chops can increase it. Do yourself a favor and buy and already graded coin from PCGS or the very least NGC when it comes to these. DO NOT try and go raw on these if you aren't an expert. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4691 Posts |
Chop marks like these are major damage. This coin looks harshly cleaned. Value significantly reduced. Value probably around 50 bucks or so.
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
12477 Posts |
I think the chop marks are interesting, but I know that Trade dollars are heavily counterfeited as well as the marks. I would only purchase a chopmarked example if it was TPG authenticated. In Memory of Crazyb0 12-26-1951 to 7-27-2020
In Memory of Tootallious 3-31-1964 to 4-15-2020
In Memory of T-BOP 10-12-1949 to 1-19-2024
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1527 Posts |
Whilst Jaysun1327's 1874 Chop marked Trade dollar looks legitimate, I myself would only buy them in an NGC or PCGS holder. I really like chop marks as it means the coin was used for it's intended purpose and gives the coin a back story. From my study of these coins I've found out that the bigger chop marks are usually from the "bankers" of the day, while the small Chops are from the Merchants. I've also found out that the people that used these coins in Asia often cleaned them before they were repatriated to the US so they would get "top dollar" for the silver, so any cleaned details coins are usually very old cleanings. Information on these coins is very limited as most books are out of print, and trying to translate the Chops is hard but fun. These coins are also creeping up in price I find. Pictures of mine are below. Again, I would only buy graded ones.   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4415 Posts |
Akin to U.S. merchant counterstamps, Chinese chopmarks can increase or decrease the value of a piece. The value all depends upon a buyer's perspective; his having specific knowledge or lack thereof. Understood that the vast majority of coin collectors view chopmarked Trade dollars as damaged coins or culls, there are serious collectors of these. The ability of collectors to spot a rare variety (Sheldon, Overton, etc.) of a coin in any given series or genre is an exercise of knowledge. To the student goes the spoils ... Chopmark Collectors Club: http://www.chopmarks.com/info/chop_club.shtmColin Gulberg's book: 'Chopmarked Coins - A History' https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v17n35a07.htmlBTW .... Jaysun1327's coin sure looks legit to me.  Edited by ExoGuy
06/24/2019 12:53 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1026 Posts |
As many have said, the chop marks give it some history. Yes, they might decrease the value, but it does give the coin a story.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3453 Posts |
I hope to acquire one but am a ninny and will only get a certified one. My feeling for something like this is that is a trend. Depending on where the market it, a chopmark will either improve or decrease non-key date.
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New Member
United States
1 Posts |
I am a chopmark collector. This is a genuine chopmarked Trade dollar. The chopmarks all look typical. Eventhough there are many counterfeited Trade dollars coming from China, there are none with chopmarks that I have ever come across. That doesn't mean it wouldn't happen in the future. In fact, there are more and mroe faked silver chopmarked coins coming from China. But almost all of the faked "host coins" are Chinese dragon or "Fat Man" silver dollars. I personally don't think you absolutely need to get slabbed certified chopmarked Trade dollars. I like holding raw coins myself. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4415 Posts |
 to the CCF, Chopmarkguy. Like you, I've yet to see a counterfeit, chopmarked Trade dollar. Are you able to attribute and/or interpret chopmarks? If so, I'd welcome see you start a thread on that!  |
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Moderator
 United States
187702 Posts |
to the Community! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
600 Posts |
On my last visit to China, I bought a " Trade dollar" for $2 in market. There were lots, the vendor insisted they were all real (but I bought it for $2), and many of them did indeed have chopmarks. Of course, the year on the coin is not one that actual Trade dollars were produced. I'd post a picture, but unfortunately that piece is currently missing from my collection and likely in one of many boxes in the basement from my last move. |
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Replies: 16 / Views: 9,340 |
Posted 06/23/2019 8:24 pm
