Q. David Bowers
In the January 1962 issue of The Numismatist; Empire Coin Company, Inc., Binghamton, New York, ran a full page advertisement titled "U.S. Trade Dollars: Compare Our Low Prices and Careful Grading."
Offered were trade dollars in the following groups-items recently purchased by James F. Ruddy in Hong Kong (whose experience there is related earlier in the present book).
EF trade dollar, date of our choice $11.00.
EF trade dollars, three different dates of our choice $29.00.
EF trade dollars, five different dates of our choice $49.00.
AU trade dollars, date of our choice. $14.50.
AU trade dollars, three different dates of our choice $38.00.
AU trade dollars, five different dates of our choice $65.00.
Br. Unc, trade dollars, date of our choice $19.75.
Br. Unc, trade dollars, three different dates of our choice $56.00.
Dealers' and investors' special: 10 mixed trade dollars, EF to AU, dates of our choice $89.75.
Dealers' and investors' super special: 100 mixed trade dollars, dates of our choice $895.00.
"Empire Coin Company has the largest stock of trade dollars ever obtained by any dealer. This is an outstanding opportunity to collect or invest in these beautiful coins ... an opportunity that may never happen again! All coins are choice .... Satisfaction is guaranteed."
Stack's sale of the Samuel W. Wolfson Collection, May 3-4, 1963. In keeping with just about every high-quality specialized collection of trade dollars formed during the twentieth century, the Wolfson Collection had a run of Philadelphia Mint Proofs 1873-1883, most of which were in finer states of preservation. The mintmarks varied in quality but contained some notable pieces, namely Mint State specimens of 1874-CC, 1876-CC, 1877-CC, 1878-CC. The rare 1884 was, of course, the highlight of the offering,
1873 Br. Proof, exquisite iridescent blue toning. $160.00.
1873-S About Unc., somewhat burnished. $21.00.
1873-CC EF, choice. $53.00.
1874 Brilliant iridescent Proof. $130.00.
1874-S Br. Unc., lightly toned. $32.00.
1874-CC Br. Unc.,just about "gem" quality. $65.00.
1875 Br. Proof, partial iridescent toning. $135.00.
1875-S Br. Unc. $26.00.
1875-CC Fine to VF. $22.00.
1876 Proof, not.in full brilliance. $57.00.
1876-S About Unc. $14.00.
1876-CC A lovely richly toned Unc. specimen. $82.50.
1877 Br. Proof, partially toned. A few hairlines. $140.00.
1877-S Br. Vnc. $30.00.
1877-S A shade from Unc, $24.00.
1877-CC Br. Unc., usual bagmarks. $87.50.
1878 Br. Proof, light golden toning. $126.00.
1878-S Br. Unc., lightly toned. $21.00.
1878-CC Br. Unc., a few minor bagmarks. $310.00.
1879 Br. Proof. $82.50.
1879 Impaired Proof. $44.00.
1880 Br. Proof. $82.00.
1881 Br. Proof. $95.00.
1882 Br. Proof, minor hairlines in obverse field. $75.00.
1883 Brilliant iridescent Proof. $110.00.
1884 A gem brilliant and iridescent Proof. $8,750.00.
In the March 1965 issue of The Numismatist, B.M. Douglas, Washington, D.C., offered what must have been pieces he acquired in quantities from the Orient. They were advertised as follows:
1877-S,
1876-S Unc. each $27.00
1874-S,
1875-S,
1876-S,
1877-S, Unc, with two or three chops, each $17.50. Unc., but only one chop. Dates to be of our choice $20.00.
Trade dollars VF, many chops $5.95.
Trade dollars, VG, with many, many, many chops $3.95.
The December 1965 issue of The Numismatist included an advertisement from the Cheyenne Coin Shop (Tom Mason), Cheyenne, Wyoming, offering trade dollars at the following prices:
1873 Fine $29.50, VF $49.50, EF-AU $65.00, Proof rev. scratches $65.00, Proof $250.00.
1873-CC VF $49.50, EF $75.00.
1873-S Unc. $95.00.
1874 Proof hairlines $250.00.
1874-5 chopmarks $9.50, Unc. $75.00.
1874-CC EF $75.00.
1875 Proof hairlines $195.00, Proof $325.00.
1875-CC Fine $25.00, VF $49.50, EF $75.00.
1875-S AU chopmarks $17.50, AU $35.00.
1875-S cut over "Ce" AU $350.00.
1876 Fine $14.50, Proof hairlines $295.00, Proof $350.00.
1876 with berry [Type I rev.], EF $32:50.
1876-CC Unc. $125.00.
1876-S chopmarks $9.50, EF $39.50.
1876-S no berry [Type II rev.], Unc. $49.50.
1877 Fine $12.50, VF $16.50, Unc. $75.00, Proof $475.00.
1877-CC Unc. $l49.50.
1877-S Fine, chopmarks $9.50, Unc. $42.50.
1878 Proof, toned gem $450.00.
1878-CC Fine $125.00, VF $175.00, EF $195.00, AU $250.00.
1878-S VF, chopmarks $9.50, EF-AU $29.50.
1879 Proof $295.00, Proof gem $350.00.
1880 Proof gem $295.00.
1881 Proof gem $350.00.
1882 Proof gem $325.00.
1883 Proof, impaired $195.00, Proof gem $350.00.
The Bowers and Ruddy Galleries sale of the Austin Collection, May 31 and June 1, 1974, contained an assortment of trade dollars, mostly of choice quality.
1874-CC Choice BU. $430.00.
1874-S Choice BU. $380.00.
1875-S Choice BU. $370.00.
1875-S Unc. $290.00.
1875-S over CC Brilliant Unc. $950.00.
1875-S/CC BU. Minot surface marks. $725.00.
1876 Proof with hairlines. $270.00.
1876-S Choice BU. $360.00.
1877-S BU. $300.00.
1877-S BU, prooflike. $350.00.
1877-S Choice BU. $350.00.
1882 Br. Proof. Minot hairlines. $775.00.
1882 Proof. Some surface marks. $775.00.
1883 Proof. $900.00.