Lermish's Coin Album
CAC (The only CAC approved example as of August 2024). The 73-P is an extraordinarily tough coin; its scarcity trails 75-P and 78-CC but it is a solid #3. This lovely and original dove gray coin is a welcome addition.
The 73-S is the toughest of the SF issues.. Lovely patina and killer luster for an AU coin. Ex-Blue Sofa
CAC (The only CAC approved example as of Feb 2025). Good luster, weak strike, it's a pretty decent coin. The real story is the date. 74-P is H A R D. I missed out on this coin in an NGC holder and then again once it crossed to PCGS. After 18 months of looking for another 74-P, I had found only three awful examples, two of which were actually 74-S in a 74-P holder. I had to go back and buy this one, paying for my folly. The lesson? If an acceptable 74-P (among other dates) becomes available, get it!
Not that difficult of a date but they don't come like this too often. Fantastic luster, color, and strike; it's a really nice coin.
CAC. An absolute luster bomb! A few scattered marks and a touch of a weak strike on the obverse are the only things keeping this from perfection.
CAC. An absolute luster bomb! A few scattered marks and a touch of a weak strike on the obverse are the only things keeping this from perfection.
CAC. An absolute luster bomb! A few scattered marks and a touch of a weak strike on the obverse are the only things keeping this from perfection.
CAC. An absolute luster bomb! A few scattered marks and a touch of a weak strike on the obverse are the only things keeping this from perfection.
After reviewing die pairs, I do not think this is an 1875-P. Yet, I still paid a stupid amount of money just so that I can have a hole filler, so I guess I'm the greater fool. The 75-P is an impossible coin and it's probable that I will never have an opportunity to buy one. This will fill the slot for any number of years or decades until the elusive key date appears(...or doesn't).
CAC. Good luster and a green bean despite a gentle dip at some point and just the right amount of chops. The 77-CC is another one of the many semi-keys in the set.
CAC. Ultra common date but semi-PL and absolutely chiseled. A truly delightful coin. Ex-DDR
CAC. A rarely seen unc example of this tough RPD. Kirchgessner TDV-26
CAC. Bursting with luster and three very cool chops, a very nice example of a common date.
CAC. Bursting with luster and three very cool chops, a very nice example of a common date.
CAC. Bursting with luster and three very cool chops, a very nice example of a common date.
CAC. Despite a poor strike, this is one of the finest chopped 75-S with a type 2 reverse. Really cool cartouche chop on the reverse and blazing luster!
CAC. An old dip followed by decades of album toning has given this coin deep color on top of cartwheel luster. This is likely the finest chopped example of the date with the 2/2 hub combination. Ex-Aubrey Bebee
CAC. An old dip followed by decades of album toning has given this coin deep color on top of cartwheel luster. This is likely the finest chopped example of the date with the 2/2 hub combination. Ex-Aubrey Bebee
CAC. This is a very flashy and sharp coin with immaculate detail. 4/0 for chopped 78-S, and sole top pop for the chopped doubled die reverse. Ex-WTL, Ex-Blackhawk. Kirchgessner TDV-37
CAC. This is a very flashy and sharp coin with immaculate detail. 4/0 for chopped 78-S, and sole top pop for the chopped doubled die reverse. Ex-WTL, Ex-Blackhawk. Kirchgessner TDV-37
CAC. The FS-301 RPD is a moderately difficult variety to find but becomes vanishingly scarce if looking for a problem free example. An easily seen remainder of the repunched second 7 is evident. While not visible here, the few mint state examples also show evidence of a repunched mint mark. Purchased raw and unattributed via eBay. Kirchgessner TDV-32
CAC. As original as they come. Other than the chops, the surfaces are nearly immaculate. A common date but pristine detail and deep magentas, purples, and blues make this an extremely pleasing coin.
The 76-P 2/2, along with the 76-S DDO and 75-Very Wide CC, is at the pinnacle of the trade dollar variety mountain. Oddly enough, given how rare it is unchopped, mathematically one would expect there to be zero or one chopped instances; I am aware of five chopmarked examples. Nearly unc details, it is unquestionably hairlined but looks much better in hand than the Trueview would indicate. Ex-Stealer. Kirchgessner TDV-18
Not only is this a very scarce type 1/1, it is the discovery coin for an unknown die marriage. Previously, the known type 1 reverse dies were normal CC, wide CC, and DDR. This reverse die matches one used on a number of 75-CCs. This is the only variety graded, chopped, non-DDR 1/1; the PCGS# was created October 2023 for this coin. Luckily, it's also an attractive coin with nice detail and some neat chops. Kirchgessner TDV-20
Not only is this a very scarce type 1/1, it is the discovery coin for an unknown die marriage. Previously, the known type 1 reverse dies were normal CC, wide CC, and DDR. This reverse die matches one used on a number of 75-CCs. This is the only variety graded, chopped, non-DDR 1/1; the PCGS# was created October 2023 for this coin. Luckily, it's also an attractive coin with nice detail and some neat chops. Kirchgessner TDV-20
76 is the most common of the wide CC trade dollars but is still a very scarce coin. A nicely circulated coin with remnants of an old cleaning still evident. Purchased on HA and cracked out of a NGC holder. Kirchgessner TDV-21
CAC. The Doubled Die Reverse, while not easy to find problem free, is not tremendously scarce, and represents roughly 15% of the total mintage. It is one of the most dramatic and noticeable of all US doubled dies. This coin has nice color to go along with numerous chops and the interesting die features. Purchased raw on eBay. As of March 2024, 1 of 9 CAC approved DDR and the only chopped example. Kirchgessner TDV-22
CAC. The first known example and still one of only several known chopped 76-P with type one obverse and reverse. Tough coin! Ex-Blackhawk
Type 1/2 Micro S - neat and very scarce variety and a really nice looking coin to boot! There are heavy planchet striations on the reverse but they add to the charm of this tough coin. Purchased unattributed on Instagram. Kirchgessner TDV-11
The 1/2 Large S is a tough variety, but not quite as difficult as its sister 2/2 Large S. Kirchgessner TDV-24
CAC. Very neat Broken Arrows variety. They are not too scarce in lower grades but they don't turn up often in uncirculated condition. Kirchgessner TDV-33
The 502 over-mintmark is much more scarce than its sibling 501 but also much less readily visible. The coin is too bright for a numeric grade but has a handful of nice chops and showcases all of the interesting die features quite nicely. Cherrypicked raw from eBay. Kirchgessner TDV-13
CAC. Fantastic color and surfaces for this lightly handled proof. The 4 Finger variety is not quite as tough in Proof as in BS but still doesn't come around often. Ex-Crypto, Ex-Blackhawk Kirchgessner TDV-17
This DDO is the king of trade dollar varieties. It shows wide and immediately apparent doubling across much of the obverse. There are roughly a dozen known examples and, despite the old cleaning, this is certainly among the upper half of the population. Kirchgessner TDV-27
This DDR which shows dramatic doubling across the top of the reverse is extremely difficult to find. I have uncovered 2 of the 3 finest known but am using this cleaned example as a placeholder until I can find a chopped example. It might be a while as I'm only aware of one chopped coin (the former TDN coin). In the meantime, this coin has the same doubling and provides a lot of viewing pleasure. Kirchgessner TDV-35
While all 76-P examples are extremely difficult to find, this coin is somewhat of a unicorn as the third known chopped 1/1. This is the only example from the reverse die with full serifs on the letters and a period after FINE. More so, it's an extremely early die state (before a notable die crack developed and the die quickly failed) which then circulated enough to make finding die markers very difficult but not impossible. The odds are heavily against this coin surviving yet here it is in a straight graded holder. Ex-Blue Sofa. Kirchgessner TDV-14
This is the scarce and interesting type 1.5/2 (also referred to as 4 Finger, Transitional Obverse, and Recut Finger) with the flag pointing left but a 4th finger engraved. Kirchgessner TDV-16
This is a very scarce variety with maybe a few dozen extant examples in all conditions. No period after fine and a "medium" S that was likely created with a punch intended for a half dollar. Kirchgessner TDV-23
This is a legitimately rare variety (for the date, second only to the DDO), it's a very tough coin to find. This coin is a handsome dove gray but the luster is just a bit too impaired for a straight grade. Kirchgessner TDV-25
The 75 very wide c c was unknown until a few years ago. It is the unquestioned rarest of the trade dollar varieties with 7 known examples. Even more so, it is the Holy Roman Emperor of chopmarked trade dollar varieties as this is the only known example. An attractive coin despite an old cleaning. Purchased raw and unattributed from a random, tiny auction house. Kirchgessner TDV-09
The 75 very wide c c was unknown until a few years ago. It is the unquestioned rarest of the trade dollar varieties with 7 known examples. Even more so, it is the Holy Roman Emperor of chopmarked trade dollar varieties as this is the only known example. An attractive coin despite an old cleaning. Purchased raw and unattributed from a random, tiny auction house. Kirchgessner TDV-09
When considering hub combinations, this type 1/1 is the third rarest proof issue behind only the famous 1884 and 1885 issues. Mintage of this TDV is probably no higher than 30-35 coins and likely lower. Ex-Blackhawk. Kirchgessner TDV-15
When considering hub combinations, this type 1/1 is the third rarest proof issue behind only the famous 1884 and 1885 issues. Mintage of this TDV is probably no higher than 30-35 coins and likely lower. Ex-Blackhawk. Kirchgessner TDV-15
This is the finest known chopped example of a moderately tough DDR. It clearly sat face-up on felt in a Euro-style coin tray and heavily toned after many years, leaving it with a blend of rich colors interspersed through patches of near-terminal toning on the reverse. Kirchgessner TDV-36
Many of the chops resemble those commonly found on Old Man Dollars meaning that this coin probably made a stop in Taiwan/Formosa. This is the very tough No Periods/Blunted R variety. Kirchgessner TDV-34