Featured 1877S US Trade Dollar with Single Chop Mark: Anyone?

Discussion in 'Antique Discussion' started by wlwhittier, Aug 18, 2025.

  1. wlwhittier

    wlwhittier Well-Known Member

    This is a paste of a post I left on CoinTalk, June 1 this year. The only helpful response referred me to a subreddit on Chop-marked coins; the few responses all agreed it was interesting, and (as most of these are) that it had been cleaned, but not violently. I cannot even find my thread on Reddit now. If any of you can offer assistance or further direction, I'll be very grateful. Thanks for lookin'!

    Good day, mates!
    This belongs to a friend who knows even less than I do about numismatics, but "it was Dad's" is all I have...he's 81, his pappy died ~30 years ago.
    The coin is in reasonable condition to my eyes; that single chop-mark is why it's before this forum. A quick look says a simple arrow pointed right...but I'm less sure about that assumption the more I look at it. The mark was deeply stamped, resulting in damage to the word FINE on the reverse, as well as a slight 'bubble' at that spot. The obverse I believe shows a single stamp was used to make all 4 'brushstrokes' of that symbol at one blow, but I am not sure about that, either.
    If it is not an arrow, then it seems likely the mark is an Asian character...which, singly or in groups or series, I think was pretty common on these as well as a variety of other roughly similar coins used as trade currency globally during that period.
    Can anyone please help me to identify the mark, an' its significance on this dollar? Your comments are all mostwelcome, including grading estimates...Thanks for lookin'!
    Edit: Weight is 27.3 grams; diameter is ~38mm.


    P1440408.jpeg P1440409.jpeg P1440410.jpeg P1440411.jpeg
     
  2. Roaring20s

    Roaring20s Well-Known Member

    Last edited: Aug 19, 2025
  3. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

  4. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

  5. wlwhittier

    wlwhittier Well-Known Member

    Born2it and Roaring20s like this.
  6. wlwhittier

    wlwhittier Well-Known Member

    I had thought of that, an' it's a simple enough symbol to be pictorial...as in very early in the written language...of a dwelling, "house". But there have been no comments about what it is or may represent, except for one that opined it may be unique to a specific merchant. I sure wish I knew.
     
    charlie cheswick and Roaring20s like this.
  7. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    must be a good reason to mess up a coin , if it was done more than once......

    @daveydempsey ..... any thoughts ??
     
    charlie cheswick likes this.
  8. daveydempsey

    daveydempsey Moderator Moderator

    Chop marks on coins are small counterstamps often Chinese characters applied by merchants or assayers to verify the authenticity weight or silver content of foreign coins, This practice was particularly common in East Asia, where foreign silver coins were used in trade, hence Trade Dollar.

    I have never seen two alike, I have seen counterfeits, though.
    Weight and silver test is a must.
     
  9. Joe2007

    Joe2007 Collector

    Fantastic looking coin. High AU grade I think. Should be a desirable item with collectors.
     
  10. bosko69

    bosko69 Well-Known Member

    Geez Whit-You shoulda come to Us first buddy !:happy:
     
  11. wlwhittier

    wlwhittier Well-Known Member

    You a numismatist, too?
    The only forums coins seem to fit here are Metalware an' Silver...neither seemed appropriate, Bosko...Sorry to have snubbed you, amigo.
    I'm long on silver, have been for 35 years...a lot of it is in coinage, U.S. an' foreign. I'll post a few as the opportunity presents, see what our illustrious members think of 'em.
     
    Figtree3 and Born2it like this.
  12. bosko69

    bosko69 Well-Known Member

    No way my friend-I'd love to get back on CoinTalk,but I tried adding a new password to it 4-5 years ago and was never,ever,ever able to get back on.
    Haven't tried in a few years (the Mods there have sincerely tried, but nada)-just gave up.
    PS-I wish you luck on your silver journey my slightly incensed friend.
     
    Figtree3 and wlwhittier like this.
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