Lot 471
Great Britain. Proof Trade Dollar, 1934-B. KM-Tn5. Reported mintage of only 20 pieces. Beautiful deep iridescent toning. Very Rare. NGC graded Proof 65.
The word "dollar" entered the English language by route of Scotland, of all places. Between 1567 and 1571, King James VI struck two types of large silver coins, which were known as the "Sword Dollar" and the "Thistle Dollar" locally. The Scots preferred the term "dollar" to distinguish themselves and their money from their domineering, and territorially grasping, neighbor to the south, the English. Thus from an early date the use of the dollar carried with it a certain nationalistic, anti-English connotation. The extensive emigration of Scottish settlers to both the New and Old World colonies may well account for the ready acceptance and popularity of the word in British colonies around the world. The British trade dollar competed in Asia with the American, Mexican and other silver coins of this approximate size for many years, as silver was traditionally preferred over gold by Chinese and other mechants and bankers. The end was near in 1934, when this coin was created, for in 1935 the law was changed in Hong Kong, causing almost all 1935 and countless recent trade dollar coins to be melted, and to disappear from circulation. This is an historically significant, and extremely rare, specimen.
Estimated Value $3,000 - 3,500.
Ex Irving Goodman Collection; Illustrated in Money of The World, coin 140.
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| Realized $18,975 |
