Q. David Bowers
In the February 1935 issue of The Numismatist, F.C.C. Boyd advertised these trade dollars for sale. It is not known whether Boyd had specimens of1884 and 1885, or was simply notifying readers that each is "very rare."
1873 Unc. $2.50, Proof $3.50.
1873-S VF $2.00, Unc., $10.00.
1873 CC VF $3.00; Unc., $6.75.
1874 Unc. $2.50, Proof $3.50.
1874-S VF $2.00, Unc. $5.00.
1874-CC VF $3.00, Unc., $6.75.
1875 Unc. $2.50, Proof $3.50.
1875-S VF $1.75, Unc. $5.00.
1875-CC VF $2.00, Unc. $3.25.
1876 Unc., $2.00; Proof, $3.50.
1876-S VF $1.50, Unc. $2.25.
1876-CC VF $2.50, Unc. $4.75.
1877 Unc. $2.00, Proof $3.50.
1877-S VF $1.50, Unc. $2.00.
1877-CC VF $4.50.
1878 Unc. [sic] $2.00, Proof $3.50.
1878-S VF $1.50, Unc. $2.00.
1878 CC VF $4.50.
1879 Proof $3.50.
1880 Proof $3.50.
1881 Proof $3.50.
1882 Proof $3.50.
1883 Proof $3.50.
Thomas L. Elder's Sale of the Adams and Parker Collections, April 11-23, 1935, included the following trade dollars:
1873-S EF. $1.10.
1874 Br. Proof. $3.10.
1875 Br. Proof. $3.10.
1876 Br. Proof,
1877-S Fine. (Total: 2 pieces) $1.90 each.
1876-S EF. $1.10.
1877-S EF. $1.10.
1878 Proof. $3.70.
1878-S EF. $1.10.
1879 Br. Proof. $2.60.
1880 Br. Proof. $2.70.
1881 Br. Proof. $2.70.
1882 Br. Proof. $2.80.
1883 Br. Proof. $3.20.
The J.C. Morgenthau & Co. sale of December 21, 1937 offered this tempting item:
Complete set of Proofs 1873 to 1883. In special coin pages. Very scarce. $42.50.
The June 1939 issue of The Numismatist printed an advertisement from John R. Stewart, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which included a number of high grade branch mint trade dollars. Little is known about Stewart, but he must have been a connoisseur of the series.
1873-CC Unc, $7.50.
1873-S Very rare, Unc. $17.50.
1874-CC Unc. $7.50.
1874-S Unc $7.50.
1875-CC Unc, $5.00.
1875-S Unc. $3.50.
1876-CC Unc, $5.00.
1876-S Unc. $3.50.
1876 Proof $4.00.
1877-CC Unc. $7.50.
1877-S Unc. $2.50.
1878-S Unc.. $2.50.
1882 Proof $4.00.
1883 Proof $4.50.
The J.C. Morgenthau Sale of October 5-6, 1939, catalogued by Wayte Raymond and James G. Macallister, included the following trade dollars, mostly Philadelphia Mint Proofs, but with memorable specimens of 1873-S and 1874-CC.
1873·S Unc., very rare in this condition. $7.00.
1874-CC Unc.., Proof surface. $7.50.
1874 Br. Proof. $4.50.
1875 Br. Proof. $3.50.
1876 Br. Proof. $3.50.
1876 Br. Unc.. $2.75.
1877 Br. Unc.. $2.75.
1878 Br. Proof. $3.25.
1879 Br. Proof. $3.00.
1880 Br. Proof. $3.50.
1881 Br. Proof. $3.00.
1882 Br. Proof. $3.50.
1876, 1877, 1878, All S mint. Br. Unc.., 3 pcs. $7.00.
The J.C. Morgenthau Sale of the George B. Hussey Collection, March 14, 1940, included this item:
Lot 136: "1873-1883 [trade dollars]. Complete set of Proofs. Choice lot in album pages. Scarce." $46.00.