Trade Dollars
A Trade Silver dollar, as the name implies, is a coin made of metal, usually silver or gold, which is made for trade. That is, it’s created to specifically trade for goods abroad. As Great Britain, Mexico, France and Spain used rather enticing large metal coins, the US had to do the same. The Trade Silver Dollar, then, was created to rival the other western superpowers. The silver and gold content in a Trade Silver Dollar is more than other dollar coins used in the US. This was due to the fact that the US coin had to compete against the purer coins used in the orient.
The coins were used all over Asia, and they were a big success. In Japan, China and Korea, the coins still bear the chopmark. This is a mark hacked into the coin to verify its silver or gold content. They could make sure the coins were not simply coated in silver. The ratio of silver to copper is 90% to 10%. This was more than what was placed in the American circulated coins. The Trade Silver Dollars, however, were used often in trade in the US as well. They were legally worth up to five dollars, though the real value and not the face value fluctuated as the price for silver and gold yo-yoed over the years. In 1876, silver took a large plummet, and the value of the Trade Silver Dollar devalued rather quickly.
We only list a small number of coins on this site and narrow it down even further by type or denomination on the above navigation links. Every listing below is currently available, and can be purchased right now online. Not happy with the selection your seeing today? Bookmark this page and come back tomorrow, or even in a couple hours, and there will be fresh choices shown on this page or go ahead and use the search tool for the exact item your looking for.
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1877-S TRADE T$1
 | US $12,500.00
Sale Ends: Sunday Sep-05-2010 12:51:38 PDT
Buy It Now for only: US $12,500.00
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1877-S TRADE DOLLARS NGC MS63
 | US $1,601.00 (6 Bids)
Sale Ends: Sunday Sep-05-2010 14:39:19 PDT
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1877-S TRADE DOLLAR-PCGS GENUINE-CLEANED UNC
 | US $295.00 (0 Bid)
Sale Ends: Sunday Sep-05-2010 15:13:02 PDT
Buy It Now for only: US $325.00
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1877 S Trade Dollar VF+ Great detail
 | US $150.00 (0 Bid)
Sale Ends: Sunday Sep-05-2010 15:13:11 PDT
Buy It Now for only: US $250.00
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1877 Trade Dollar - Circulated
 | US $122.50 (9 Bids)
Sale Ends: Sunday Sep-05-2010 16:00:02 PDT
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1874 Trade Dollar **F+/XF** NICE COIN!
 | US $112.60 (8 Bids)
Sale Ends: Sunday Sep-05-2010 16:15:43 PDT
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1877-S Trade Dollar GORGEOUS SELECT BU ZR-5
 | US $818.18
Sale Ends: Sunday Sep-05-2010 16:36:35 PDT
Buy It Now for only: US $818.18
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1930 BRITISH GB HONG KONG SILVER TRADE DOLLAR NGC MS 63
 | US $147.51 (9 Bids)
Sale Ends: Sunday Sep-05-2010 17:08:10 PDT
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1875-CC Trade Dollar, Older NG-58 Holder.
 | US $690.00 (20 Bids)
Sale Ends: Sunday Sep-05-2010 17:24:21 PDT
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1877-S Trade Dollar Fine/Very Fine Details
 | US $109.00 (0 Bid)
Sale Ends: Sunday Sep-05-2010 18:35:38 PDT
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1878 S Trade Silver Dollar Estate Coin
 | US $150.00
Sale Ends: Sunday Sep-05-2010 18:41:32 PDT
Buy It Now for only: US $150.00
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1878s Choice Original Uncirculated U.S. Trade Dollar
 | US $690.00 (0 Bid)
Sale Ends: Sunday Sep-05-2010 18:53:24 PDT
Buy It Now for only: US $760.00
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The Trade Silver Dollar started in 1873 and went on for more than a decade until 1885, though the minting of the coins started and stopped throughout. The coins pretty much took a production hiatus six years before and up to 1885. In 1884 and 1885, the coins were made, however, behind closed doors and kept a secret from the general public. In 1887, the US Treasury started buying back the coins to make up for its devaluation. No one is quite sure what happened to the nearly eight million coins sold back. Before this, however, sly business folks could buy the dollar coins back from Asians for 80 cents or less. The Trade Silver Dollars would then be used in the US as $1 dollar. Often, a worker could work a week or two and be paid in these Silver Dollars, worth less on the global market. Such moves impelled congress to pass a law making the coin useless and not legal tender in the US.
Most of the Trade Silver Dollars were minted in San Francisco and Carson City. As you might have guessed, these cities had easier and much faster access across the Pacific and farther east. Some dollars, however, were minted in Philadelphia. More often than not, this is the place all the proofs were made and released for the other mints. The coins have the smallest mark of where they were minted above the D in Dollar on the reverse side. The acronyms S, CC and P stand for San Francisco, Carson City (Nevada) and Philadelphia, respectively. Some of the most unique Trade Silver Dollars are from 1884 and 1885, the years that “no minting” was going on. There are only a known ten and five of each coin, which never made it to circulation. The coin is priceless when one considers the rarity and history of the coin.
Check out the above listings for Trade Dollars and if you like what you see make a bid or buy it now. If you don't see what you want or need, try the search function to narrow it down ever further. Book mark this site and check back often for the latest listings.
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