Silver Dollars & Trade Dollars of the United States - A Complete Encyclopedia
Q. David Bowers
The Trade Dollar March
1881: 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: $0.8969
Dies prepared: Obverse: Unknown; Reverse: Unknown. 2 or more. (One pair was destroyed on January 14, 1882; evidently at least one reverse was held over for 1882 use.)
Proof mintage: 960. Delivery figures by month: January: none; February: 300; March: 175; April: 85; May: 40; June: 70; July: none; August: 10; September: 25; October: 51; November: 38; December: 166.
Characteristics of striking: Often lightly struck with flatness on some stars. This problem continued into 1883.
Approximate population Proof-65 or better: 122+/- (URS-8)
Approximate population Proof-64: 234+/- (URS-9)
Approximate population Proof-63: 212+/- (URS-9)
Approximate population Proof-60 to 62: 198+/- (URS-9)
Commentary
Proof-only issue. made for collectors; no business strikes were produced.
Additional Information
The Year 1881 in History
(See entry under 1881 Morgan dollar)