The late 19th century saw a rise in the production of trade dollars by nations around the globe. Although the colonial era was on the decline in many corners of the globe, China and Southeast Asia had become a focal point of international trade and colonial expansion during this era. Among JM Bullion’s collection of world silver coins, you’ll find two specimens from an existing program reviving historic trade dollar designs on modern silver bullion coins. The latest addition to this collection is the Chinese Trade Dollar design.
The 2019 Chinese Trade Dollar Silver Coin
In the third release of trade dollar coin designs, the 2019 1 oz Chinese Trade Dollar Silver Coin issue presents one of the most intricate and beautiful trade dollar designs ever produced. The coins are available with 1 Troy oz of .999 pure silver in Brilliant Uncirculated condition. This design in the collection has a limited mintage of only 5,000 coins in total. You can purchase these coins inside of individual protective plastic capsules or within mint tubes of 18 coins each.
On the reverse side of the 2019 Chinese Trade Dollar Silver Coin is the image of the Chinese dragon. This slithering beast featured on the first Chinese Trade Dollar silver currency issued by one of the final empresses of the Qing Dynasty in 1889. The beast is surrounded by a Chinese-themed ornamental border and includes inscriptions of “The East India Company” and “Trade Dollar.
The obverse face of 2019 Chinese Trade Dollar Silver Coins includes the right-profile portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. This is Jody Clark’s fifth-generation design created for the Royal Mint of England in 2015. It depicts Her Majesty in right-profile relief with the Royal Diadem crown on her head. Inscriptions on this face of the coin include Clark’s “JC” initials, along with “Elizabeth II,” “St. Helena,” “One Pound,” and “2019.” This side of the coin has the same border design as the reverse.
Brief History of Trade Dollars
Trade dollars is a generic term applied to largely silver currency that was produced beginning in the 19th century. Trade dollars were designed by individual nations and used to facilitate trade between nations such as the United States, United Kingdom, France, Spain, the Netherlands and colonial territories in Asia and Southeast Asia. Each country had the power to set their own designs, silver content, and value against their own fiat currency.
The rise of trade dollars came about following the Spanish Empire’s establishment of a colony in the Philippines. The Spanish silver dollar became the basis for future trade dollar developments. After Spain established its colony in the Philippines, it became a hub for trade as goods moved from China and East Asia through the Philippines and to Spanish colonies in the New World. In return, silver began to flow from mines in Mexico and Central America to markets throughout Asia.
Nations such as Britain were among the first to design and issue trade dollars, with its efforts starting after it founded Singapore and Hong Kong in the first half of the 19th century. The United States issued its own trade dollars following the Civil War as trade between states in the Western US and Asia began to increase. The Chinese Trade Dollar design featured on these coins was issued in 1889 during the latter days of the Qing Dynasty. Empress Dowager Cixi oversaw a broader overhaul of Chinese currency following China’s defeats against the British in two separate Opium Wars.
About St. Helena
St. Helena is the issuing nation for the 2019 Chinese Trade Dollar Silver Coins featured in this blog post. The island of St. Helena is a volcanic subtropical island that is located in the Southern Atlantic Ocean. One of the most remote islands in the world, there were no native inhabitants of the island when the Portuguese discovered it in 1502. The island eventually became an important stopover for ships sailing from Europe to Asia on trade routes. The East India Company established the first base of operations here in 1658 and maintained control under a grant from the British government until 1815. Control of the island returned to the British East India Company from 1821 to 1834 and was a crown colony from that point until 1981.
Today, St. Helena is a The release of a Chinese Trade Dollar coin follows previous issues of the United States Trade Dollar with an image of Seated Liberty and a British Trade Dollar with a depiction of Britannia. This exciting collection has more planned releases, so now’s the time to catch up and stay current with these beautiful silver bullion trade dollar coins. If you have any questions, you can call us at 800-276-6508, chat with us live online, or email us. Don’t forget to check back with us each Friday for a new feature blog post and follow us on Facebook for daily updates and weekly contests.British Overseas Territory together with Ascension and Tristan da Cunha. The island is most famous as the location of exile for Napoleon following his defeat in the Second Napoleonic Wars. He died on the island in exile on May 5, 1821.
Collect the Trade Dollar Designs such as the Chinese Trade Dollar from JM Bullion
The release of a Chinese Trade Dollar coin follows previous issues of the United States Trade Dollar with an image of Seated Liberty and a British Trade Dollar with a depiction of Britannia. This exciting collection has more planned releases, so now’s the time to catch up and stay current with these beautiful silver bullion trade dollar coins. If you have any questions, you can call us at 800-276-6508, chat with us live online, or email us. Don’t forget to check back with us each Friday for a new feature blog post and follow us on Facebook for daily updates and weekly contests.
