USA 1 dollar Trade Dollar 1883
USA, Philadelphia
Rarity
Extremely Rare
Attributes of Coins
| Region | USA |
|---|---|
| Denomination | 1 dollar |
| Krause number | KM# 108 |
| Mintage | 979 |
| Metal | Silver 0.900 |
| thickness | 3 mm |
| diameter | 37.8 mm |
| weight | 27.22 g |
Obverse:
Liberty
People
Star
Creators:
William Barber
IN GOD WE TRUST
LIBERTY
Reverse:
Bird
Coat of arms
Creators:
William Barber
420 GRAINS. 900 FINE.
E PLURIBUS UNUM
TRADE DOLLAR
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Introduction of Coins
This was the final year for public sales of trade dollars, and all were coined as proofs. The two subsequent issues of 1884-85 were available only to those well-connected to the Mint. Sales of the 1883 edition fell a bit from 1882, and it's likely that collectors were growing bored with this obsolete coin type that lacked legal tender status and, as a result, was now worth well below its nominal face value. The Mint was certainly weary of producing dies and planchets to sell a modest number of proofs annually when the mark-up was so slight. The nuisance that circulating trade dollars presented in commerce upset many government officials, and the continued coining of proofs ran counter to their efforts to eliminate the coin type altogether. Though it is somewhat scarcer than most of the preceding issues of proof-only trade dollars, this year's edition is fairly available at the gem level. Certified Cameo pieces are fewer than for 1882, and Ultra Cameo examples are genuinely rare. It's possible that some of this mintage was destroyed after the end of the year. There are no varieties worth noting, and interest by collectors is tepid at best.Read More
