Trade Dollars

[MunkyMan95]

I've been wanting to wander into the Trade Dollar area of numismatics for a few years now. It seems that the only trade dollars I can find are either "RARE Key Dates" or have been graded and slabbed and cost hundreds of dollars. Is there anywhere where a beginner in the Trade Dollar world can buy his first trade dollar without having to take out a second mortgage on the house just to pay for one???

[Tradedollarnut]

I've been wanting to wander into the Trade Dollar area of numismatics for a few years now. It seems that the only trade dollars I can find are either "RARE Key Dates" or have been graded and slabbed and cost hundreds of dollars. Is there anywhere where a beginner in the Trade Dollar world can buy his first trade dollar without having to take out a second mortgage on the house just to pay for one???

 

Trade dollars are one coin to specifically avoid unless they've been graded and slabbed. There are too many fakes out there.

 

If you want to acquire a real one and are budget conscious, then you are going to have to go for low grade or chopped.

 

There's a trade dollar section on ebay you can browse to get a feeling for what one will cost you. If you buy a raw one based on low price, be aware you are most likely buying a fake that can elsewhere be purchased for about $10.

[MunkyMan95]

Guess I'll just have to start saving up then

[EZ_E]

And be careful about buying one from one of the large advertisers in the numismatic periodicals because they will sell you abused, hairlined and cleaned rade Dollars.

 

Still, the only Trade Dollar I have at this point is one that fits the above criteria.

[TomB]

There is no entry point into Trade dollars that costs only a few dollars yet gets you an original, problem-free piece. Expect to pay in the hundreds for any original, problem-free piece and be certain to only buy certified (PCGS, NGC, ANACS, ICG) coins in this series until you can spot the overwhelming numbers of modern counterfeits out there.

[MunkyMan95]

Guess I'll just have to start saving up then

[James_OldeTowne]

Have you considered collecting Trade dollars in higher circulated grades? They are perfectly attractive coins in say EF-45 or so, and don't break the bank at that level.

 

James

[McKinley-migration]

trade dollars to me have a stigma around them merely because 9.5 out of 10 that i see are fake.. we get people in the shop regularly that have held onto a 'trade dollar' for years like a cash cow.. only for us to glace at them and give them the bad news... it's a counterfeit, and offer $5 at best.

 

the good news about the series is the whole thing for the most part is do-able.. as long as they're real. i have yet to dive into it, but i know the real challenge is obtaining authentic coins. be careful... 9.9999 out of the orient are worthless, never buy the thailand/whatever trade dollars on ebay.

 

and i personally think chop marks add character... which by the way will grade MS by top grading services... which is hugely questionable.

 

trade dollars is a wacky series... read every book you can before you put your money up.