Numismatic

1877 Trade Dollar XF

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In 1877, the United States produced a distinctive silver coin designed specifically for international commerce. This Trade Dollar, graded in Extra Fine condition, contains 0.7874 troy ounces of 90 percent pure silver. These specialized coins were minted for only a brief five year span, with the entire series yielding a total mintage of fewer than 36 million pieces across all years. The obverse of the coin displays a seated figure of Lady Liberty, surrounded by an arc of 13 stars. She rests above the date of 1877, with the motto "IN GOD WE TRUST" inscribed on her support. This elegant design was created by William Barber, who also fashioned the reverse. On the reverse, a powerful heraldic eagle is depicted with its wings spread wide. The inscriptions surrounding the eagle declare the issuing nation, "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," along with the specific weight and purity of the piece, "420 GRAINS, 900 FINE," and the denomination, "TRADE DOLLAR." Because this particular coin was struck at the Philadelphia Mint, it does not display a mint mark.