trade dollar

American  

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.

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Etymology

Origin of trade dollar

An Americanism dating back to 1870–75

Example Sentences

Jackson declares: "The time has come to place our highest human values ahead of the trade dollar."

From Time Magazine Archive

The trade dollar of 1873 shows Liberty wearing a diadem, seated on a bale of goods by the sea.

From Time Magazine Archive

It added the French dollar for a time, but that was superseded by the trade dollar, and neither was made a legal tender but for five dollars.

From Recollections of Forty Years in the House, Senate and Cabinet An Autobiography. by Sherman, John

Since the trade dollar was authorized $30,710,400 had been issued, or nearly four times the entire issue of old silver dollars since the foundation of the government.

From Recollections of Forty Years in the House, Senate and Cabinet An Autobiography. by Sherman, John

Mr. Sargent, a Senator from California, early in the session introduced a bill enlarging the limit of legal tender of minor coins, and repealing the legal tender quality of the trade dollar.

From Recollections of Forty Years in the House, Senate and Cabinet An Autobiography. by Sherman, John