U.S. Mint coin reference

1873–1885: Trade Dollar (Custom Weight Foreign Commerce Merchant Type)

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1875-S Trade Dollar toned obverse and reverse

Coin specifications and design

Years made: 1873-1885

Country: United States

Denomination: One trade dollar

Category: Circulating / trade coin

Composition: 90% silver, 10% copper

Silver fineness: 90%

Silver weight: 0.7874 oz ASW

Weight: 27.22 g

Diameter: 38.1 mm

Thickness: Approx. 2.5 mm

Edge: Reeded

Designer: William Barber

Design identification

Obverse: Liberty sits on a bale of merchandise, extending an olive branch toward the sea; thirteen stars surround the figure.

Reverse: An eagle holds an olive branch and arrows above the inscriptions 420 GRAINS and 900 FINE.

1873–1885: Trade Dollar (Custom Weight Foreign Commerce Merchant Type) history

1873–1885: Trade Dollar (Custom Weight Foreign Commerce Merchant Type) was authorized for overseas commerce and contains 420 grains of .900-fine silver. Business strikes were made from 1873 through 1878; regular proof production continued from 1879 through 1883.

The exceptionally rare 1884 and 1885 pieces are special issues of uncertain official status, not evidence of continued circulation production. Liberty sits on a bale facing the sea, while the reverse states 420 GRAINS 900 FINE beneath an eagle.