trade dollar

noun

1. a silver coin of the U.S., containing slightly more silver than the standard dollar, issued from 1873 to 1885 for trade with Asia.

Word History and Origins

Origin of trade dollar¹

An Americanism dating back to 1870–75

Example Sentences

An extremely rare 1885 Trade Dollar is expected to sell for up to $2 million when it is auctioned next month.

From Fox News

This law also provided for a trade dollar for use in trade with China and Japan.

From Project Gutenberg

The central bank may receive a portion of the bonds to sell through its Sitme currency market, where banks trade dollar bonds on behalf of clients to finance imports at an exchange rate of 5.3 bolivars per dollar, said Asdrubal Oliveros, director of Caracas-based consulting firm Ecoanalitica said.

From BusinessWeek

Hong-Kong quotes for the old Mexican dollar and a British trade dollar; Shanghai for the tael containing on an average 517� grains of fine silver.

From Project Gutenberg

The total silver-dollar coinage of the United States, between 1789 and 1873, was barely eight million dollars, and when, in 1873, the law provided that except for the so-called trade dollar coined for export, "no deposit of silver for other coinage shall be received," no one had interest enough in the matter to offer criticism.

From Project Gutenberg