Hybrid U.S.-Chinese Coins: Collecting Chopmarked Trade Dollars

BY ERIC BROTHERS

The United States Trade dollar is a fascinating coin. It was the only U.S. coin produced for international trade. It was the only U.S. coin to be “canceled.” Its cancellation was not due to its failure as a trade coin. In fact, it was a great success in China and throughout the Orient. It was canceled due to its controversial domestic use. Plus, numerous Trade dollars carry Chinese chopmarks upon them. Those chopmarks are why such coins could be considered “hybrid U.S.-Chinese coins” because they entered the Chinese economy after being chopped by shroffs (money changers) and other merchants. China did not have its own coinage system and, therefore, employed international silver coins as its de facto currency. The U.S. Trade dollar was used to pay civil servants and the…

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Numismatic News (Digital) - 1 Issue, February 4, 2025

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