1873-1885 Trade Dollars
The 1878-CC Trade Dollar (Buy on eBay) was the final issue of the series produced for circulation at the Carson City Mint. The mintage represents the low for the series at 97,000 pieces, many of which are believed to have been melted. The issue is rare and carries a premium across all grade levels. Approximately […]
Trade Dollars were struck for circulation for less than five years during the period from July 1873 to April 1878. These coins were minted during the suspension of the standard silver dollar denomination and were intended primarily for export; however, the Philadelphia Mint continued to fulfill orders from collects for Proofs during the next five […]
The Philadelphia Mint struck Proof Trade Dollars (Buy on eBay) for each year the coins were issued for circulation. The production of Proofs also continued for several years after the last circulation strikes, creating a number of Proof-only issues. During the circulation strike years from 1873 to 1878, Proof coin production ranged from a low […]
The Trade Dollar has the same composition as the previous silver dollar series at 90% silver and 10% copper. However, the weight is 420 grains or 27.22 grams, representing an increase from the previous standard of 26.73 grams. The increase in weight and silver content was intended to make the United States coins comparable to […]
With only five known examples, the 1885 Trade Dollar (Buy on eBay) represents a valuable and enigmatic rarity within American numismatics. Although the production of the series for circulation stopped in 1878, the Philadelphia Mint continued to strike Proof Trade Dollars for numismatic purposes for the next several years. Initially, it was believed that the […]