TRADE DOLLAR ALTERED TO "THE CRIME OF 1873/SIXTEEN TO ONE/NIT."
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Winning Bid:
$1,846.90
(Includes 15% Buyer's Premium)
Bidding Ended:
Tuesday, March 15, 2016 10:00:00 PM (20 Minute Clock Begins At Tuesday, March 15, 2016 10:00:00 PM)
Item Description
This is a 1.5" silver trade dollar dated for its first year of issue in 1873. Both the obverse and reverse have been altered. On the obverse most of the outer edge stars encircling the figure of Liberty have been removed and replaced with text which now reads in full "The Crime Of 1873." The original trade dollar design shows Liberty seated on a bail of cotton or tobacco to symbolize commerce. This area of the coin to the right of Liberty and below her has been altered replacing the original design with a large chamber pot. Trade dollars altered in this fashion are thus known as 'Potty Dollars'. The coinage Act of 1873 was a revision of laws relating to the Mint of the United States. It abolished the right of owners of silver bullion to have their metal struck into legal tender dollar coins thus ending bi-metallism. Those who favored bi-metallism denounced the act as the "Crime of '73". The alteration of this coin was apparently done in 1896 and the alteration showing on the reverse is somewhat confounding as it seems to take the opposite political view to that expressed on the front of the piece. On the reverse the original text beneath the eagle has been totally removed and replaced with large text "Sixteen To One/NIT." The words "Sixteen To One" reflect Bryan's desire to have a bi-metallic coinage system at a ratio of sixteen silver ounces to one gold ounce but the inscription "NIT" is an anti-Bryan sentiment with the letters standing for the words 'Not In Trust'. See the next two related items. Rare.
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