Up for sale is this extraordinary piece of international trade history: an 1898-B British Trade Dollar, authenticated and encapsulated by NGC with the designated Chopmarked pedigree sourced from an Asian collector where the coin was heavily used and made the final stops in its active trading journeys.

​Struck at the Bombay Mint ("B" mint mark) to facilitate British commerce across Hong Kong, Singapore, Penang, and coastal Chinese ports, this coin circulated extensively throughout East Asia. Heavily stamped with authentic 19th-century Chinese merchant "chopmarks," this piece physically records its journey through Chinese commercial banking houses and money changers (Shroffs).

​Historical Background: The British Trade Dollar

​Following the Opium Wars and the opening of treaty ports in China, British merchants faced stiff competition from Mexican 8 Reales and Spanish Pillar Dollars. To secure financial dominance in the region, the United Kingdom authorized its own trade dollar in 1895.

​Designed by George William De Saulles, the obverse features Britannia standing atop a rock surrounded by sea, holding a trident and shield, with a merchant ship sailing in the background. The reverse displays a labyrinth design containing Chinese characters (壹圓 - "One Dollar") and Malay-Arabic Jawi script, making it a true trilingual coin crafted explicitly for Asian trade.

​The Story of the Chopmarks

​In late 19th-century China, foreign silver coins were evaluated purely by weight and purity rather than face value. Local money changers, banks, and merchant firms used custom steel stamps (chopmarks) to test the solid silver core and guarantee the coin's weight and fineness to local buyers.

​This specific example is heavily host-stamped on both sides, featuring both clear relief characters and Latin counterstamps:

• ​Obverse Chinese Character Chops:

• ​"福" (Fú): Displayed prominently on Britannia's shield; represents Good Fortune or Blessing, a common brand name for major Chinese trading houses.

• ​"興" (Xīng): Stamped near Britannia's arm; translates to Prosperous or Flourishing, frequently used by merchant guilds.

• ​"全" (Quán) & "寶" (Bǎo): Secondary Chinese chops indicating Purity and Treasure/Money.

• ​Latin Merchant Stamps: Includes visible relief chops with initials such as "D.O" and "D.E", likely applied by European trading firms or treaty-port money handlers operating alongside Chinese merchants.

• ​Reverse Chops: Additional incuse character chops, including a distinct "宣" (Xuān), validating the coin's authenticity through secondary transactions.

​Key Item Specifications:

• ​Issuer: Great Britain / British Trade Dollar

• ​Year / Mint: 1898-B (Bombay Mint, India)

• ​Denomination: $1 (One Trade Dollar)

• ​Composition: .900 Fine Silver (0.780 troy oz ASW)

• ​Grading Service: NGC (Numismatic Guaranty Company)

• ​Pedigree / Designation: Chopmarked

• ​Certification Number: 8501675-003

• ​KM Number: KM# T5

​Condition:

Permanently preserved inside a secure NGC slab with the "Chopmarked" holder label. The host coin features deep, rich charcoal-gray toning around the devices, framed by distinct high-contrast chops. You will receive the exact coin shown in the pictures.