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The Trade Dollar, designed by William Barber, is the only U.S. coin demonetized by the government. Intended for trade in the Orient, it had legal tender status until silver prices dropped, making coining profitable. On June 22, 1876, this status was revoked, and circulation production halted in February 1878. The 1875 and 1878-CC are the rarest regular issues, while the 1884 and 1885 proofs—10 and 5 struck, respectively—are the most valuable, though unknown to collectors until 1908 with no Mint records, earning a "simulated series coin" classification by numismatists. Still, they’re often collected as part of the regular series. The obverse shows Miss Liberty seated on a merchandise bale, holding a branch and a ribbon inscribed LIBERTY, with a wheat sheaf, the sea, and IN GOD WE TRUST above the date, stars encircling the top. The reverse features an eagle with three arrows and a branch, E PLURIBUS UNUM above, 420 GRAINS, 900 FINE below, and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and TRADE DOLLAR surrounding.
