[Ancient Gold Appraisal] Buying and selling 1885 French Trade Silver Dollar (Seated Dollar).

French trade coins, also known as "Piastre de commerce," are silver coins issued during the French colonial period in the 19th and early 20th centuries. These coins were primarily used for French trade activities in Southeast Asian colonies, especially in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos, and are therefore sometimes referred to as "Indochina coins."

1. Design and Features

The obverse of the "Seated Piastre" typically depicts a French goddess seated on a rock, wearing a laurel wreath, holding an olive branch in her right hand and a scepter symbolizing power and victory in her left. Her image symbolizes French power and peace, and her seated position facing the sea represents France's global influence as a maritime power. The reverse is inscribed with the insignia of French Indochina, the denomination, the year of minting, and the face value, usually 1 Piastre (silver dollar).

2. Weight and purity

A typical Seated Liberty silver coin weighed 27 grams and was 90% silver (containing 24.3 grams of pure silver). These coins were modeled after other popular trade coins of the time, such as the Mexican Eagle and the American Trade Coin, and were used for trade and economic activities in Southeast Asia. Their standardized weight and purity made them widely accepted in regional trade.

3. Historical Background

The "Seated Liberty" silver coin was first issued in 1885 as French colonial currency in Southeast Asia, primarily circulating in French Indochina. As French economic activity increased in these regions, the Seated Liberty became the official currency unit. This silver coin was not only used for local transactions but also widely participated in international trade within the region, particularly with China, Japan, and other Southeast Asian countries.

4. Collection and recycling value

The "Seated Liberty" silver coin has become a popular item in the collector's market due to its historical background, exquisite design, and high silver content. Especially rare "Seated Liberty" silver coins from specific years and in excellent condition have high collectible value. Their buyback price fluctuates depending on their condition, year of minting, and market conditions, and is usually influenced by the price of silver.