1876 Trade Dollar. Type II/II. MS-62 (PCGS). An exciting offering for advanced trade dollar enthusiasts, the Type II/II hub combination of the circulation strike 1876 is one of the keys to completion of a trade dollar variety set. This is a beautiful Mint State example, both sides fully untoned to allow ready appreciation of satiny mint luster. The strike is strong with razor sharp to full detail throughout the design.<p>Despite a significantly lower mintage (455,000 vs. 3,039,000 pieces), the 1876 edges out the 1877 to rank as the most plentiful Philadelphia Mint trade dollar in Mint State. This issue is significant to specialists, however, in that it contains a major rarity in the Type II/II hub combination. In 1876 the engraving department at the Philadelphia Mint introduced an obverse hub change into this series. On the Type II obverse hub, the ends of the ribbon upon which the word LIBERTY is inscribed point down and Libertys branch hand has four fingers and a thumb. The Type II Reverse hub, introduced in 1875, is readily identifiable by the lack of a berry on the branch below the eagles left talon. As all four hub types were in use at the Philadelphia Mint in 1876, the years Proof and circulation strike issues are known in the following combinations: Type I/I, Type I/II and Type II/II. The last-listed is by the far the rarest, especially in circulation strike format. Writing in his 1993 silver and trade dollar encyclopedia, Q. David Bowers reports that in a survey of 21 Mint State 1876 trade dollars that appeared at auction (an admittedly small sample), Mark Borckardt found only a single example of the Type II/II hub combination. Bowers describes this variety as "very rare" and, while it is listed in the <em>Guide Book</em>, is it unpriced therein and described as "extremely rare." The present example is the fourth finest certified by PCGS, and with the three finer examples tightly held in specialized collections, this offering may be the last for a Mint State 1876 Type II/II trade dollar for many years to come. Advanced collectors of this series are urged to formulate an aggressive bidding strategy to secure this significant rarity. This rare variety is one of two keys to a Hub type trade dollar collection. The cartwheel luster and strong strike give this centerpiece the eye-appeal collectors seek. Sure to attract strong bidding.<p>
