I added another 1888 coin to my collection. It is from French Indochina.
It is a coin that has been used for trade, as you can tell by the chop marks on both sides of the coin.
Chopmarks are small stamps or imprints on coins, especially silver trade dollars, made by merchants to confirm their authenticity, weight, and metal content. The use of chopmarks was common in East Asia, particularly among Chinese merchants who needed to verify the legitimacy of foreign coins in a market rife with counterfeits. The stamp or imprint made by merchants indicated that it had been inspected, tested, and deemed trustworthy. Chopmarks are found on several types of coins, including widely circulated issues such as the Spanish 8 Reales and the U.S. Trade dollar. Source
Chopmarks are damage to a coin. But who does not appreciate a coin that has an intriguing story behind it, travelling the world and traded, confirmed, and verified to be silver by Chinese merchants and bankers, and now is in my possession?
Chopmarks as Historic Artifacts
Each chopmark on a coin is a historical record, reflecting the transactions it was used in. A chopmarked U.S. Trade dollar tells a story of a path across oceans, from Western mints to Chinese ports, and sometimes back again. Some collectors are captivated by these stories and treat chopmarked coins as miniature records of international trade and diplomacy, offering insight into the extensive trade routes and exchanges of the past. The marks, such as those representing specific Chinese merchants or businesses, serve as tangible reminders of bygone trade relationships. Source
I think it is neat that the chopmarks barely missed the year date of which I am most interested in. The chopmarks are mostly found on the lower right of Marianne (France), sparing her entire body, allowing us to still enjoy the obverse design of the coin.
The reverse shows the 0.900 purity and 27.215 Grams weight. Partially visible are the words PIASTRE DE COMMERCE that translates to Trade Piastre, which is the denomination.
The engraver of the obverse and reverse sides of the coin was Jean-Auguste Barre.
Here is a short YouTube presentation of The Colonial History of French Indochina by Reconciliation of Nations.
Reference
https://en.numista.com/catalogue/exonumia319160.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Indochina
https://learn.apmex.com/answers/what-are-chopmarks/
https://www.wga.hu/bio_m/b/barre/son/biograph.html
😍#ilikeitalot!😍
Gold and Silver Stacking is not for everyone. Do your own research!
If you want to learn more, we are here at the Silver Gold Stackers Community. Come join us!
Thank you for stopping by to view this article. I hope to see you again soon!
I hope to see you again soon!
Hugs and Kisses 🥰🌺🤙!!!!
I post an article daily. I feature precious metals every other day, and on other days I post articles of general interest. Follow me on my journey to save in silver and gold.
