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

1880 Trade Dollar

Coinage Context
No business strikes made: As in all years 1879-1885, the only trade dollars made were Proofs. This year set a record for Proof trade dollar mintage.

Trade dollars continue their reverse flow: During 1880 trade dollars of earlier dates continued to come back to the United States, primarily through the London and other European markets.

Numismatic Information

Proof coinage sets record: The popular speculation in Proof-only trade dollars continued and peaked in March 1880, as the following delivery figures indicate: January: none; (In some years the Mint did not begin delivering Proofs until after January.)February: 488; March: 777; April: 201; May: 58; June: 50; July: 20; August: 25; September: 30; October: 27; November: 40; and December: 271. By year's end some 1,987 Proofs had left the coining press, a record for the denomination.

Availability of Proofs today: Most of the Proofs still exist, perhaps 1,300 to 1,700 of the 1,987 coined. They are readily available in various grades from Proof-60 to Proof-65 or better. Very occasionally a worn example, such as an Extremely Fine coin (technically graded Proof-40 or 45), will come on the market-a piece which was spent by some numismatist who could not wait for his investment to mature (actually, any profits went to the next generation of owners).

Varieties:
OBVERSE TYPE II, RIBBON ENDS POINT DOWN, 1876-1885
REVERSE TYPE II: NO BERRY BELOW CLAW, 1875-1885
Proofs:
1. With top of 1 in date below G of GOD. Crossbar of 4 in 420 is perfect (compare to No.2 below).
2. With top of 1 in date below GO of GOD. The reverse of some specimens has these characteristics:
No projection or right side to crossbar of 4 in 420 (but a tiny dot-like remnant is visible); lower right serif of first L in DOLLAR is flat on the top (as normal), but the second L has a rounded top (abnormal). This is the variety most often seen.

1880 Trade Dollar: Market Values

1880: Summary of Characteristics

Proofs:
Enabling legislation: Act of February 12, 1873
Business strike mintage: None
Designer: William Barber
Weight: 420 grains
Composition: .900 silver, .100 copper
Melt-down (silver value) in year minted: $0.9019
Dies prepared: Obverse: at least 2; Reverse: at least 2 Proof mintage: 1,987; Delivery figures by month:
January: none; February: 488; March: 777; April: 201; May: 58; June: 50; July: 20; August: 25; September: 30; October: 27; November: 40; December: 271.
Characteristics of striking: Usually seen with areas of lightness, particularly at the top of the obverse-the stars and the head of Miss Liberty.

Approximate population Proof-65 or better: 212+/- (URS-9)
Approximate population Proof-64: 322+/- (URS-10)
Approximate population Proof-63: 312+/- (URS-10)
Approximate population Proof-60 to 62: 345+/- (URS-10)

Commentary
The 1880 trade dollar is a Proof-only issue made for collectors. No business strikes were produced. 1880 had the highest Proof mintage of any date of the trade dollar denomination.

Additional Information

The Year 1880 in History (See entry under 1880 Morgan dollar)