USA 1 dollar Trade Dollar 1885
USA, Philadelphia
Attributes of Coins
| Region | USA |
|---|---|
| Denomination | 1 dollar |
| Krause number | KM# 108 |
| 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
Almost nothing is known as to when the 1885 trade dollars were coined, beyond that it almost certainly occurred during the early weeks of that year. Just five are known today, and that is almost certain the number struck. Philadelphia coin dealer William Idler was well known to officers of that city's U. S. Mint, and he frequently had the ear of Superintendent A. Louden Snowden. It's supposed that these coins were struck at the mint secretly with the permission of Snowden and furnished to Idler then or at some time a little later. It would have been necessary only to replace the bullion used so that the books balanced. A different reverse die was used for the 1885 trade dollars than for the 1884 issue, also a Snowden/Idler contrivance. It's presumed that this die was made especially for the 1885 edition sometime before Snowden left office at the end of June, which provides a general timeline for the coins' manufacture. Some 23 years later it was announced by dealer John W. Haseltine that five of these coins had been found among the collection of his father-in-law, William Idler. This was a belated announcement, as the coins were already being supplied to prominent collectors by Haseltine and his business partner, Stephen K. Nagy. Virgil Brand was, perhaps, number one on their list of potential buyers, but the number of pieces Brand purchased is uncertain, despite the very detailed ledgers he kept. Not considered by most in the hobby to be a regular part of the trade dollar series, no opening is provided for 1885 in the various coin albums made for this type. Only the wealthiest of collectors are likely to own one of the five known examples.Read More
