Check out this Trade Dollar.

[jsu]

I helped one of my friends move some stuff around in a old house he just bought. He said that he found these two silver dollars in a old desk and wanted to know if I wanted them (he knows I`m into coins). I offered him $30 for them and he said that sounded fair because the 1877S silver dollar was cut and turned into a locket of some sorts and probably was not worth much. So after I got them I checked it out closer and the trade dollar looks real as far as I can tell and it opens up with a woman's picture inside. Does anyone know what something like this is worth? Is it worth less than the value of the actual coin? I do not see copy anywhere on the coin and it looks like worn silver. By the way the other coin is a 1922S peace dollar.

 

[Marc(NB)]

nice purchase,cant go wrong with that buy

 

[Cr4zyH0rs3]

Really decent buy there.



Who cares what anyone else thinks the old pic says a thousand words.

 

[Gilligan]

Looks like a quite unique item and I would guess that it would fetch considerably more than you paid for it or even what the coin is worth! Just a guess, I have never seen one before. If you could research who is in the pic based on who previously owned the home, may increase the value, again, just a guess.

 

[Lucky Jack]

I've had some experience in machine shops and if I were going to make something like this I would use two coins. Fisrt you'd set it up on a milling machine that would "hollow out" the inside of the fisrt coin. Then sand or plane down the second coin to make a thin flat lid and trim the outside so that it fits inside the first coin. Next solder on a hinge and a latch. You get to sell the locket and keep all the silver you machined out to sell later. This might not be a bad idea for a project now, using Kennedy halves.

 

[MalteseFalcon]

If I had found it, I would try to find out who owned the house in 1891, then try to find some descendants to give it to.

But that is just me.

Neat find! And whether real or no, the Peace dollar is real.

 

[Mr.Jody]

I would be all over the land with a metal detector !!....

 

[Ohio Jerry]

It's just plain cool JSU,sorry you had to deal with the drama. I think Lucky Jack's idea about using two coins could explain why the reverse is so much more worn than the obverse. I've attached 3 photos of some curious craftsmanship done to a Kennedy half that i inherited from my father in law's coin collection,thought you might enjoy,
Jerry
DISCLAIMER for all the J. Does out there;
I didn't dig it.
It's not for sale.
Don't CARE if it's real.
It's worthless other than a conversation piece.
Just havin fun

 

[pookie-princess of rust]

thats a cool item.

 

[pookie-princess of rust]

thats different...

It's just plain cool JSU,sorry you had to deal with the drama. I think Lucky Jack's idea about using two coins could explain why the reverse is so much more worn than the obverse. I've attached 3 photos of some curious craftsmanship done to a Kennedy half that i inherited from my father in law's coin collection,thought you might enjoy,
Jerry
DISCLAIMER for all the J. Does out there;
I didn't dig it.
It's not for sale.
Don't CARE if it's real.
It's worthless other than a conversation piece.
Just havin fun

 

[phantomfinder]

that is sooo cool , wtg . have fun out there...

 

[Ramitt]

That is a cool old magic trick coin Ohio Jerry. Push a cigarettte throught the coin gag.

 

[Ohio Jerry]

That is a cool old magic trick coin Ohio Jerry. Push a cigarettte throught the coin gag.

Thanks for the id Ramitt. We always wondered if it had something to do with a magic trick

 

[jsu]

Thanks everyone for the replies. This coin/locket thing is definitely a interesting piece of history and is going in my collection for good. I am going to do some research to find out who the lady in the picture is. I am also sorry about the drama, I did not want to start a fight. I was just curious about the locket and I knew it was not a fake coin. I had never seen a trade dollar (in person) before this one but it looked real to me when I bought it. Anyway, Thanks for the replies, sorry for the drama. Maybe next time we see one of these trade dollar lockets, it will be dug and actually found with a detector. Good luck to everyone and happy hunting. Jeff

 

[fortbball9]

I think the coin is evil-----send it to me and all will be well------ LOL
Congrats!!!!! I think that no matter what that is one cool looking coin.


fortbball9

 

[River Rat]

Regardless rather it was dug or purchased, I think it is very unique. Hope you find out more about the lady. Keep us posted.

RR