Silver Dollars & Trade Dollars of the United States - A Complete Encyclopedia

1875-S Trade Dollar: Market Value

1875-S/CC: Summary of Characteristics

Business Strikes:

Approximate population MS-60 to 62: 50 to 75 (URS-7)
Enabling legislation: Act of February 12, 1873

Designer: William Barber
Weight: 420 grains
Composition: .900 silver, .100 copper
Melt-down (silver value) in year minted: $0.9814
Dies prepared: Obverse: At least 1 (part of 1875-S shipment); Reverse: 2 (part of 1875-S shipment) Business strike mintage: A. small fraction of the 4,487,000 mintage for 1875-S
Approximate population MS-65 or better: 0 or 1 (URS-0)
Approximate population MS-64: 4 to 7 (URS-3)
Approximate population MS-63: 5 to 8 (URS4)
Approximate population VF-20 to AU-58: 200-400 (URS-9)
Characteristics of striking: Usually seen well struck.

Known hoards of Mint State coins: None
Rarity with original Chinese chopmark(s): Rare.

Proofs:

None

Commentary

The only overmintmark in the trade dollar series. Unknown to the numismatic fraternity until the pub-lic announcement in 1963 of its existence.

Additional Information

Bruce Amspacher's Discovery
Bruce Amspacher related the following concerning the rarer of two die varieties of the 1875-S/CC: (Letter to the author, June 24, 1992.)

"In early 1974, Ed Hipps sold an 1875-S/CC trade dollar to Jim Halperin for $375. The coin was frosty, mint state, and clean-a gem to my 1974 eyes. I wanted the coin, but Jim quoted me $625 for it. Too much. The neatest thing about the coin was that the 'CC' mintmark was completely clear of the 'S' and far to the right. In 1975 I asked Jim if he still had the coin. He said he had sold it to Eric Newman (or maybe he said he sold it to John Willem-it was definitely one of those two). (The author's (QDB's) inquiry to Eric P. Newman elicited this reply dated July 14, 1992: "I have no recollection of acquiring an 1875-S/CC trade dollar. I would guess it was Willem.")

"When I wrote the trade dollar section for John Highfill's book, The Comprehensive U.S. Silver Dollar Encyclopedia, I men-tioned this variety. Walter Breen saw the article before publication and, asked John to contact me. It was a new undiscovered variety, Walter insisted, and he wanted to see a photograph.John said that Walter was very excited about the coin. I called Jim about the coin, but he didn't remember anything about it.Jim chided me about my ability to remember "everything that has ever happened." Of course, I don't remember everything, or even close to it. But I do remember that coin,and the variety definitely exists."