A United States Trade Dollar contains 0.7875 troy oz of pure silver, worth $42.56 at today's spot price.
The trade dollar, designed by William Barber, was made for trade with China, where the Mexican peso was the usual silver coin. Coins for circulation were struck from 1873 to 1878; later dates were made almost only as proofs.
Melt values use these spot prices (US dollars):
- Silver $54.05 per troy oz Current quote · Quote time Oct 24, 11:00 PM EDT
Some prices could not be refreshed recently and may be out of date.
Melt value is the metal content at spot price, not a buy or sell price. Collectible coins can be worth much more. For reference only.
Specifications
| Years | 1873–1885 |
|---|---|
| Face value | Trade Dollar |
| Composition | 90% silver |
| Gross weight | 27.216 g |
| Fineness | .900 (90%) |
| Pure metal | 0.7875 troy oz (24.494 g) |
How the melt value is worked out
Melt value is the pure silver in the coin multiplied by the spot price. We use the coin's standard minted weight; worn coins weigh slightly less.
-
27.216 g × .900 fine ÷ 31.1035 g per troy oz = 0.7875 troy oz
0.7875 troy oz × $54.05 spot = $42.56
How to identify it
- Liberty sits on a bale of goods holding an olive branch, with IN GOD WE TRUST near the bottom.
- The reverse eagle has 420 GRAINS, 900 FINE. below it and TRADE DOLLAR around the edge.
- Mint marks CC (Carson City) and S (San Francisco) are on the reverse; Philadelphia coins have none.
- Many genuine coins carry chopmarks, small stamps punched by Chinese merchants who checked the silver. Fake chopmarks are also added to fakes.
Melt value vs. collector value
Genuine trade dollars almost always sell above melt, and chopmarked coins usually bring less than clean ones. Proofs from 1879–1885 are rare, and only 10 were made in 1884 and 5 in 1885. Trade dollars are among the most faked US coins, Carson City coins above all, so have any coin checked before buying.