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Trade Dollar

Trade Dollar

     The American Trade Dollar Coins were created specifically to stimulate and facilitate overseas commerce. At the time, the American government realized that overseas trade with China was hampered by the fact that Chinese merchants preferred to use Mexican rather than American currency, since the Mexican coins contained more silver. American merchants had to exchange their money, often having to pay high fees that cut into their profits. Therefore, a currency had to be developed that would satisfy the demands of America’s trading partners.

Trade Dollar

     The Trade Dollar sought to beat its competitors, and this showed in the fact that Trade Dollar was formulated to weigh more than both the “regular” American dollar and its Mexican counterpart. Obverse side of Trade Dollar shows a Liberty seated facing the sea, extending an olive branch, an image especially designed to show trading partners that America had only good will towards them. The other side of Trade Dollar showed the heraldic eagle then typical of American coinage. However, the Trade Dollar Coin’s “vital statistics” were also prominently displayed: the words “420 Grains .900 Fine” are written beneath the eagle in large print.

1876 Trade Dollar

      For a time, the Trade Dollar was very successful. Chinese merchants soon decided to use American instead of Mexican currency. Unfortunately, events at home soured this success. Some American silver mine owners began to dump silver onto the market, thus causing a crash in the price of silver, which of course played havoc with America’s monetary system. Scammers took advantage of the chaos in order to engage in profiteering. Production for mass circulation was stopped in 1878, and in 1887, people were allowed to turn in their silver dollars for redemption money.

    1884 or 1885 Trade Dollar Coins are extremely rare, and can sell for hundreds of thousands, or even millions, of dollars. Other options include proof strike coins from other years, which were made for collectors, not for circulation.

Trade Dollar (Silver) Fair Market Values in U.S. Dollars (1873-1885)

Date/TypeG4VG8F12VF20XF40AU50AU53AU55AU58MS60
*1873$108$132$144$174$240$330$420$480$670$1,040
1873 Proof--------------$900$1,020$1,740
*1873 CC$198$228$300$450$1,200$1,650$2,460$3,570$4,620$6,840
*1873 S$138$150$168$210$276$390$570$700$870$1,120
*1874$125$138$156$180$222$378$438$480$750$1,050
1874 Proof----------------$1,020$1,680
*1874 CC$180$240$282$420$610$710$740$810$1,110$2,790
1874 S$98$132$144$180$222$360$408$450$630$1,020
*1875$258$300$342$450$552$940$990$1,120$1,410$2,400
1875 Proof--------------$940$1,050$1,680
*1875 CC$168$240$270$390$510$630$700$810$1,110$2,340
1875 S$86$132$144$180$210$270$312$420$570$990
*1875 S/CC$210$300$390$540$990$1,650$1,860$2,040$2,580$4,170
1876$90$132$144$180$234$288$330$432$540$990
1876 Proof--------------$900$1,020$1,680
*1876 CC$210$270$300$360$480$690$820$1,710$2,730$5,370
1876 S$83$132$144$162$210$282$312$390$552$1,020
1877$86$132$144$162$216$300$330$408$540$1,020
1877 Proof--------------$930$1,020$1,680
*1877 CC$222$270$318$510$700$750$870$990$1,170$2,850
1877 S$83$132$144$162$210$282$330$420$540$1,000
1878 Proof--------$930----$1,050$1,230$1,680
*1878 CC$480$570$760$1,590$2,940$4,620$5,370$6,540$10,650$14,100
1878 S$83$132$144$162$222$270$330$390$570$990
1879 Proof----------$960$1,020$1,080$1,170$1,770
1880 Proof----$840$870$960$1,020$1,050$1,230$1,320$1,680
1881 Proof--------$990$1,080$1,170$1,380$1,440$1,680
1882 Proof--------$930$1,020$1,140$1,320$1,380$1,680
1883 Proof--------$1,050$1,140$1,230$1,290$1,380$1,680
1884 Proof------------------$180,000
1885 Proof--------------------

 

Trade Dollar Coins on eBay

1878-S $1 Silver Trade Dollar AU - AU++ Details Cleaned 1878-S $1 Silver Trade Dollar AU - AU++ Details Cleaned Paypal US $298.95 1h 8m
1873 cc TRADE DOLLAR PCGS GENUINE XF DETAILS 1873 cc TRADE DOLLAR PCGS GENUINE XF DETAILS Paypal US $750.00 10h 21m
1877, Trade Dollar 1877, Trade Dollar Paypal 3 Bids US $212.50 11h 17m
Mixed Coin Lot 1873 TRADE DOLLAR, 2 1893 HALVES, 1891 Dime 90% SILVER BAG 7 Mixed Coin Lot 1873 TRADE DOLLAR, 2 1893 HALVES, 1891 Dime 90% SILVER BAG 7 23 Bids US $100.00 12h 33m
Oriental Trading Dollar!  1877-S Silver Trade Dollar FINE & Golden Toned Oriental Trading Dollar! 1877-S Silver Trade Dollar FINE & Golden Toned Paypal US $187.50 14h 53m
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1877 TRADE DOLLAR - SILVER - HOLED 1877 TRADE DOLLAR - SILVER - HOLED Paypal 1 Bid US $69.90 18h 25m
1877 Trade Dollar United States 420 Grains 900 Fine 1877 Trade Dollar United States 420 Grains 900 Fine Paypal 8 Bids US $95.29 18h 31m
1877 Trade Dollar Fine Details Cleaned 1877 Trade Dollar Fine Details Cleaned Paypal 0 Bid US $79.95 18h 54m
1878-S Trade Dollar Fine Details Damaged 1878-S Trade Dollar Fine Details Damaged Paypal 0 Bid US $64.50 18h 55m