are you into trade dollars? why is the market so lukewarm for them?

[michael]

the proof only trade dollars

 

and EVEN MORESO the better choice and higher mintstate sleeper trade dollars for example 1874 are not as on fire as many other less interesting and more common coins

 

when will this change?

 

why is this??

 

here is a proof trade dollar ultra deep cameo please see attachment

 

michael

[Tradedollarnut]

Trade dollars appear to be collected mostly as a type coin. Too bad, as to my eyes it's one of the best designs ever created for a circulating coin.

 

Furthermore, it's a series that has it all: interesting patterns, two classic rarities, an over mintmark, several double dies, proof only dates, a low mintage partially melted circ strike rarity, two obverse & reverse varieties, a run of CC dates, an interesting sideline of collecting chopmarked coins, the potty dollars and the so called opium dollars. All dates are readily available in circulated grades and, with a single exception, in low uncirculated grades. What's not to love!?!

[Bruceswar]

I think that it is that people see this as a short series... Not to mention thew fact that if you wanted to put a set of these together you would have to have really deep pockets... Another reason would be that they also overlapped the Morgan Series.. I think it all started back then .. I bet the Morgans were used alot as these we not.. and we know how collecting starts.. you go buy coin that you remember from back then or something your grandpa told you about... I personally like the series, but the price just makes it out of reach for me. I would like to get a nice XF coin, but they are much higher than say most morgans... Mabye it is just me but it seems like people don't collect short series as much... Also I think that for people do get into collecting the series that have to start out with cheaper coins so they are sure that they like the series...

[EVillageProwler]

A series may languish for any number of reasons, and I think that may be a good time to buy up the choicer specimens within that series.

 

As for the TD series, here're my thoughts:

 

In the circ grades, even up to ChAU, the series is fairly easy to complete. It contains only one big money coin: 1878CC. Everything else can be had for a budget of no more than $1000 per coin, with really nice common date sliders well below that budget limit.

 

In the rarified area of finest known and condition census specimens, there are few collectors to go along with the few specimens. I guess demand roughly equals supply.

 

In the varieties market (including chopped specimens), there are far fewer serious collectors than there are specimens. A couple of years ago, after Andy Geosits sold off his stuff, a rare variety of the 1875-CC (T2 rev) sold for a modest premium over its garden variety price. Andy had just about everything a true specialist will want. But, he's one of a very few serious specialists of TD minutiae.

 

In MS60-64 and PF60-64 market, most of the dates are readily available. There are, of course, a number of big money items. But, for the 73CC and 78CC, you can always get 'em in ChAU. They may still be quite expensive to many collectors, but they are affordable with the right level of patience, persistence and financial planning.

 

I believe that the TD market won't stay depressed forever. People are always looking for series that they can exploit, and the TD has a lot more going for it than classical commems and 3CS's. I've waited EIGHT years (since I got back into the hobby) for interest in Seated material to wax. It's finally happened. It gives me hope that I can wait it out for the TD market to move once again!

 

EVP

 

[Elcontador]

I agree that the Trade $ design is far more beautiful than the Morgan $. But, compared to the Morgan $, they're scarce. Also, their appeal may be limited among U.S. collectors because they didn't circulate much here. Among circulated coins, there are quite a few fakes (I wouldn't buy a circulated one that wasn't slabbed).

 

The grading services allow a lot of contact marks on the larger coins. So if you want to get a really nice one, get a relatively unmarked AU 58; which I think is the best value. However, if you want to get one in Unc., I think you need to pick one up in MS 64 at a minimum, which is out of reach of many collectors.

 

[BillJones]

I've gotten want lists for dates and mint marked circulated Trade Dollars in circulated condition. I've never been able to fill them because most circulated coins that come my way even in slabs are unattractive.

 

BTW there are some decent MS-62 and 63 Trade Dollars out there as common date type coins. I've bought and sold them. So you don't have to pay over $2 grand to get a decent Trade Dollar type coin. But you do have spend several hundred to a bit over a thosand dollars.

[shirohniichan]

A couple of years ago, after Andy Geosits sold off his stuff, a rare variety of the 1875-CC (T2 rev) sold for a modest premium over its garden variety price. Andy had just about everything a true specialist will want. But, he's one of a very few serious specialists of TD minutiae.

 

Dang! That was my '75-CC I/II, also! Maybe I should have bid on it-- I may have gotten it back for less than I sold it to him for (nah, I doubt it).

 

I love the series because of the design and its place in history. The whole turn away from the dual gold/silver standard, the attempt to shore up sagging silver prices, the connection to the Comstock Lode, chopmarks, etc. made the trade dollar series fascinating to collect.

 

Prices have risen enough that I don't buy them much any more, but I still look at them.

[Oldtrader3]

IMHO, a couple things hurt the Trade Dollar market. They are not actually US legal tender, even though they are included in Registries. Plus, nice specimins are pretty expensive. For the same money, I would rather buy a Seated Dollar, or a lower graded Gobrecht.

[Tradedollarnut]

Trade Dollars were indeed legal tender - for a time. And once again, as well.

[EVillageProwler]

Plus, nice specimins are pretty expensive. For the same money, I would rather buy a Seated Dollar, or a lower graded Gobrecht.

 

In terms of type, a nice TD in MS63 runs around $1300 or so. A nice common date MS64 specimen runs near $2500.

 

A decent 60O, 71 or 72 SD in MS63 runs around $2500. (A MS63 TD costs about the same as a 59O, 60, 60O, 71, 72 in MS62.)

 

And, I have no idea what you can get for that money as a Gobrecht!

 

Basically, for common date material, I'd say that you can get the most quality in the form of a TD.

 

EVP

 

[TomB]

That's a nice TD, Michael, is there a lint mark in front of and above Ms. Liberty's knee?

 

In some ways, I think that the TD series is a victim of critical mass. There just aren't scores of them around, and this limits their potential mass-marketability. Hence, fewer people are likely to take strong positions within the market because they perceive it to be a limited one.

 

I have a nice MS64 TD, EVP has seen it and can vouch for its "look", and I also have a very original and attractive PF10 Gobrecht. It took me several years of looking for an original, attractive Gobrecht before I found this one and, when I did, I bought it immediately. The Gobrecht cost me about twice what the nice MS64 TD did.

[EVillageProwler]

Tom,

 

Your coin would have a better "look" were it in a real TD collection!

 

EVP

 

[michael]

the coinage act of 1965 that among other things gave legal tender status once again to the trade dollar

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hi there tomb!

 

well tom thanks for the kind words said with sincerity

 

that mark by the knee is what i think a reeding mark from another coin!

that is why this trade dollar is only graded proof64 but man!! what a 64 the eye appeal is easily a superb gem

 

the reverse of the coin is basically hairline free and would graded proof67 easy the obverse without the mark by miss libertys knee is a really nice proof65+

 

the mark at 3 pm on the obverse close to the rim of the coin into the third star is a link mark or as i call it a worm

 

usually most to all 1881 proof trade dollars are weakly struck with some stars not even full and almost always the head of miss liberty and her crown weak

 

not so with this coin!

 

this coin is one of the first strikes off of a new die!!

 

also ngc began designating pre 1916 proof coins cameo and ultra cameo i think the beginning of 1999 about two years before pcgs started in june 2001

 

i believe this proof trade dollar is the first if not one of the first proof trade dollars to be designated as ULTRA CAMEO by ngc

 

in person this coin is just mesmerising and totally snow whitehas the look/surfaces of a brand new proof silver american eagle

 

 

this coin is one of the least maxed out coins in a holder today

 

 

 

 

michael