The Frank Rose rarity scale for chopmarked coins


Compiled by Ed Murphy July, 2001

Chopmarks consist of Chinese characters and/or designs, which were printed or stamped with punches on the surfaces of both gold and silver coins to signify that the stamper considered them to be authentic. According to Frank Rose, the term chopmark is said to have been first used by the English in connection with India, where the term was chappa or choppa, meaning an official stamp or seal.

Despite being an integral part of the history of the trade dollar, little information is available regarding Chopmarked coins, with Frank Rose’s rarity scale being the exception. Just as one might use a comparison site like Fool.co.uk to gather facts and compare types of mortgages online, the The Frank Rose rarity scale clarifies the scarcity of various coins, allowing collectors to better decipher their worth. Rose also goes on to describe the various basic types of chopmark within his short publication.

UNIQUE (1 EXISTS)

Hawaii – Dala
Russia – 25 Kopeks
Russia – Rouble

EXTREMELY RARE (2 TO 5 EXIST)

Argentina – 8 Reales 1826
Australia – Half Sovereign 1862
China – Dollar Birds over Junk
China – All Minors with English letter chops unless rated otherwise
Great Britain – Sovereign
Great Britain – 8 Reales w/oval George III counterstamp
Great Britain – Florin
Hong Kong – Cent
Japan – All minors unless rated otherwise
Korea – 5 Yang
Mexico – Escudo 1814
Mexico – 8 Reales Iturbide
Mexico – 8 Reales Maximillian 1866
Mexico – Peso Caballito
Mexico – 4 Reales 1736
Papal States – Scudo 1684
Holland – 3 Gulden
Holland – Guilder 1794
Mauritius – 20 Cents
Els Salvador – Peso 1892
Spain – Half Escudo 1758
Tibet _ Srang 1909
U.S.A. – Double Eagle 1904-S
U.S.A. – Eagle 1900
U.S.A. – Bust Dollar
U.S.A. – Barber Half Dollar 1914-S
U.S.A. – Liberty Seated Quarter 1839
U.S.A. – Capped Bust Dime 1836
U.S.A. – Large Cent 1855
U.S.A. – Indian Head Penny 1875

VERY RARE (5 TO 10 EXIST)

China/Fukien – 20 Cents Crossed Flags
Great Britain – All minors unless rated otherwise
Holland – 2 ½ Gulden
Holland – Half Ducaton
Mexico – Cobs with dates and readable chops
Philippines counterstamp – Peru 8 Reales 1828
Philippines – Peso 1897
Mexico Cob - 4 Reales with Sumanep counterstamp
Mexico – 8 Reales 1798 with Sumanep counterstamp
U.S.A. – Seated Liberty Dollar 1849
U.S.A. – Bust Half dollar 1808
U.S.A. – Columbian Exposition Half Dollar

QUITE RARE (10 TO 25 EXIST)

Austrain Netherlands – Thaler 1796
Burma – Peacock Rupee 1852
Mexico – Cobs with dates and unreadable chops
Spain – 20 Reales 1862/62

RARE (25 TO 100 EXIST)

Argentina – 960 Reis
Austria – Maria Theresa Thaler
Bolivia – 2 Reales 1780
Cambodia – Tical 1847
China/Hupeh – Dollar with English letter chops
China/Szechuan – Dollar with 18 circles
France – Ecu de 6 Livres
France – 5 francs
Holland – all unless rated otherwise
Hong Kong – All minors unless rated otherwise
India – Rupee 1840
Mexico – Cobs without dates and unreadable chops
Mexico – all colonial minors unless rated otherwise
Mexico – all cobs except those rated otherwise
South Peru – 8 Reales 1838
Peru – all minors unless rated otherwise
Philippines counterstamp – all unless rated otherwise
Siam – All copper coins unless rated otherwise
U.S.A. – All minors unless rated otherwise

SCARCE (100 TO 500 EXIST)

All Central & South American with English letter chops
China – all Crowns with English letter chops unless rated otherwise
Great Britain – 3 Shilling bank Token George III
Japan – Yen Meji 3
Mexico – 8 Reales balance scale
Peru – 8 Reales 1822 with 1824 counterstamp
Philippines counterstamp – Peru 8 Reales standing liberty
Philippines counterstamp – Peru 8 Reales Bust
Siam – Tical 1876-1907
U.S.A. – Seated liberty Half dollar

NOT COMMON, BUT NOT SCARCE (IN-BETWEEN)

Spain – all minors unless rated otherwise

COMMON (500 OR MORE EXIST)

China – Dollar no birds over junk
China/Hsien – Large coppers 67.6mm & smaller
China – all minors unless rated otherwise
China – Yuan Shih Kai Year 3
French Indo-China – Piastre
Great Britain – Trade dollar
Hong Kong – Dollar
Mexico – 8 Reales Pillar Dollar
Mexico – 8 Reales Bust
Mexico – 8 Reales Cap & Rays
Peru – 8 Reales Bust
Peru – 8 Reales Standing Liberty 1840
U.S.A. – Trade Dollars vary upward in rarity