NEW BOOK: U.S. TRADE DOLLAR

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V28 2025 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 28, Number 23, 2025, Article 2

In the June 2025 edition of E-Gobrecht from the Liberty Seated Collectors Club, LSCC President Len Augsburger reviews a new book on U.S. Trade Dollar varieties. We're republishing it here with permission. Thanks! -Editor

Joe Kirchgessner Publishes U.S. Trade Dollar: Rarity, Collection Types and Top 37 Varieties

Among Liberty Seated denominations, the Trade dollar has heretofore lacked a comprehensive guide to the die varieties in that series. With the publication of Joe Kirchgessner's U.S. Trade Dollar, that problem has been solved, and collectors looking to explore the world of Trade dollar die marriages now have a well-defined starting point.

This 522-page compendium contains just about everything collectors need to know, with the strengths of the book being the Top 37 varieties (I'm not sure why it wasn't the "Top 25" or "Top 50" – perhaps Kirchgessner likes the fact that the number 37 has some interesting mathematical properties) and the lengthy enumeration of obverse and reverse dies for each issue.

For these chapters, Kirchgessner has adapted the variety attribution template from Bill Bugert's "Register" volumes on Liberty Seated halves, making the layout appear immediately familiar and straightforward to use. The large format (8.5x11) and photographic enlargements make attribution a snap, with ample arrows highlighting the pickup points.

Kirchgessner is quick to note that the hunt continues for new obverse and reverse dies, and continued discoveries are expected. Some authors insist on "perfection" before publication, and as a result never publish anything. The author has found a sweet spot here – the present work is substantial but will still motivate others to join the chase. Joe writes of the 1877-S issue, for example, "this was a ‘best effort' attempt and many other dies and die marriages exist." With a mintage of nearly ten million pieces, I do not doubt it.

Apart from the die variety analysis, there is plenty here for those who collect only by date and mintmark. Counterfeits, chop marks, exonumia, proof v. business strike attribution, and a host of other related topics all appear within these pages. Kirchgessner's inclusion of Trade dollar lore is a welcome addition and will appeal to those who are not specifically interested in die varieties. In terms of historical treatment, Kirchgessner provides a concise overview of the evolution of the coin, but defers to previous authors (Willem, Bowers) for more in-depth analysis.

I expect that dealers, auction houses, and grading services will adopt the Kirchgessner attributions, with the "Top-37" attributions (TDV-1 through TDV-37) being the most likely to first appear in commercial use. These coins can be readily identified and most carry scores of 2 or 3 on Kirchgessner's three-point "cool factor" scale.

This is a hardcover, print-on-demand publication. While the cover price will defray much of the printing cost, we should recognize that such books are a "labor of love" and that the cost of the book will never compensate Kirchgessner for the thousands of hours involved in its preparation. For that, let us offer profound thanks to Joe for his important contribution to the study of Liberty Seated coinage!

Here's some additional information from the Lulu.com page. -Editor

This book was written with the objective of filling a void in numismatic literature related to collecting United States Trade Dollars. The primary objectives of this book are to; 1) Assist novice and advanced collectors with information regarding types of collections that are possible within the Trade Dollar series, 2) To quantify and assess the rarity of US Trade Dollar dates, mintmarks and Type I/II obverse and reverse combinations beyond what is available in current reference materials, and 3) To document a subset of rare but collectable die varieties and types. Estimated rarity, unique attributes and characteristics are provided to assist in identification.

Trade Dollar Book MPD 8 & 7 on 1873-CC P2020428RS

Example of a Multiple Punched Date (MPD) in the denticles of an 1873-CC Trade Dollar

For more information on the Liberty Seated Collectors Club, see:
https://lsccweb.org/