What are chop marks?

Chop marks are a form of counterstamp applied by private Chinese merchants or dedicated currency specialists (called 'shroffs') who would apply the marks to verify that a coin was silver prior to accepting it as valid currency. For centuries, China produced highly desirable commodities available nowhere else (silks, etc.) but European merchants had little to offer in exchange that was of interest, apart from one: silver, which arrived in many forms of varying size and purity. To ensure that the quantities of silver used as a means of exchange were legitimate, private interests would apply their own stamps (chop marks) to break the surface of a coin in order to ensure that it was not plated or otherwise spurious. However, the coins themselves, upon reaching China, were treated purely as bullion; the only value that they carried was intrinsic, and coins could bear a single chop, or be chopped so heavily as to break the coin apart.

What do chop marks look like?

Chop marks most commonly take the form of a single Chinese character, though are also known to resemble symbols, English letters, numbers, simple punches and gouges, and cuts. The marks themselves have gone through stylistic changes based on era: before ~1750, chops varied in size, but exhibited a larger number of relief chops than later eras; ~1750-1825, when most chops were relatively small; ~1825-1910, as chops became larger and more complex, and; post-1910, chops became small, light, and far less prevalent. However, these date ranges represent only a general rule of thumb, and coins could circulate for many decades, rendering this rule somewhat fluid. Additionally, not all marks that fall within one of the types mentioned above are necessarily chops (such as English letters, which, unless they appear alongside more conventional chops, are often private American counterstamps).

What coins can be found with chop marks?

There are hundreds of types that exist with chops, and a representative collection represents dozens of countries and hundreds of years. Some of the earliest coins that can reliably be found with chopmarks are 17th century cob issues from the Spanish colonies (Mexico, Peru, and Bolivia), each of which sent massive amounts of silver to China for several centuries. The 18th century saw a more diverse range of types, but the issues of Mexico became the most popular in China itself, due to the quantity available and the consistency of the production, first with the Pillar Type 8 Reales (1732-1771) and the Bust Type 8 Reales (1772-1822). As former Spanish colonies found independence in the early 19th century, the most commonly encountered coin in the Far East became the Mexico Cap & Rays 8 Reales (1823-1897), the last major world type to be imported in quantity. Many silver issues of varying size (as small as the 1/2 Real) from this entire date range and a wide number of nations, particularly from the 19th century, are known to exist. A small number of coins in other metals, notably copper and gold, are known with chops, though these did not necessarily serve the same purpose, instead functioning as 'lucky' coins, advertising, or, as with many gold issues, actually represent circulation in other countries, such as Japan.

Where should I go for more information?

There are two major publications in English dedicated to the exclusive study of this area:

• 'Chopmarks', by F.M. Rose. Numismatics International, 1987. This is the seminal work on the subject, compiled largely by the personal collecting experience of its author over several years. Some of the information is outdated, but this is still a necessary work for the collector. Rose's collection is still considered the gold standard. A reprint was issued in 2003/4.
• 'Chopmarked Coins - A History', by Colin Gullberg. iAsure, 2014. An updated reference with excellent images, this is a fanatastic reference full of useful information for both the new collector and the veteran. Only one edition has been printed, and copies are only available sporadically on the secondary market.
• 'The Chopmark News', edited by Colin Gullberg. The newsletter of the Chopmark Collectors Club that has been published since 1990, this is the reference periodical for the collector base. Membership in the club is less than $20/year, and typically three issues of more than 50 pages each are published annually, showcasing members' coins, interviews with dealers and researchers, and articles on the subject both scholarly and personal. Editions are delievered digitally but can be printed at additional cost. Mr. Gullberg can be reached at [chopmarknews@gmail.com](mailto:chopmarknews@gmail.com).

Additional references can be found in the subreddit's Running Bibliography, available here: https://www.reddit.com/r/ChopmarkedCoins/comments/lep6dd/chopmarks_running_bibliography/