SILVER DOLLAR 1873-1885 Trade

Description

The Trade Dollar, first minted in 1873, derived its name from its intended purpose. That purpose being, for use in foreign trade, specifically in the Orient. At the time there was a need to compete with the Mexican Dollar. Today, it seems odd that competition in trade was ever affected by the physical characteristics of the currency used. Back in the good old days, the value of a currency or coin was based on the actual value of the metal contained within. If someone else gave you more silver for the same product, you traded with that source of more valuable coinage. Today our dollar is the currency of choice all over the world. However, nothing more than a promise to pay the bearer or exchange with the bearer backs it. To adequately compete, the weight of the Trade Dollar was increased to 420 grains.

The obverse depicts Miss Liberty seated on a bale, of merchandise, her right hand holding a branch, her left hand holding a ribbon inscribed LIBERTY, a sheaf of wheat behind, and the sea in front. IN GOD WE TRUST appears at the bottom just above the date. Stars surround the upper portion. The reverse depicts an eagle holding three arrows and a branch, with E PLURIBUS UNUM on a ribbon above, 420 GRAINS, 900 FINE. Below, the inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and TRADE DOLLAR surrounds.

Valuation

The numismatist today can readily secure a trade dollar in grades from Fine through AU. Some pieces have chopmarks consisting of Oriental characters impressed by bankers and merchants when the pieces circulated in the Orient. Uncirculated coins are scarce, and superb Uncirculated pieces are rare. Proofs exist in proportion to their original mintages and are primarily available from the years from 1879 through 1883.

COIN NAME
SILVER DOLLAR 1873-1885 Trade: DESIGNED BY
William Barber: ISSUE DATE
1873-1885: COMPOSITION
0.900 part silver, 0.100 part copper: DIAMETER
38.1 mm: WEIGHT
420 grains: EDGE
Reeded: BUS MINT
35,954,535: PROOF MINT
11,4O4

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