Major Collections
Chopmark collectors are a special breed, and we haven't seen a large number of collections primarily focused on Chinese chopmarks. Here are a few collections who focused on chopmark coins or included a large number of chopmarked coins.
The Ed Murhpy Collection
Ed started this collection while living in the Philippines, and later built it over about 25 years, many coins coming from his skill in effectively hunting on eBay.
Chopmarked highlights from this collection include:
- Mexico 1767 pillar 8 Reales with a Philipines F.7o countermark
- Mexico 1823 Iturbide 8 Reales with Philippines Y.II countermark
- Philippines 1828 Manila type I counterstamp, KM-25 on Peru 1828 MA 8 Reales host coin, ex-Farouk, ex-Rose
- Argentina 1813 8 Reales
- Austria 1765 Thaler
- Brazil 1812 960 Reis stamped on a Spanish 8 Reales
- Ecuador 1884 Sucre (Ex. Bowman)
and many more...
A printed copy of "The Catalog of the Ed Murphy Collection of Chopmarked Coins" can be purchased here.
The collection was auctioned by Stack's Bowers in April 2026 in Hong Kong, all lots can be viewed here.
The Hal Walls Collection of World Trade Coins
Hal Walls' chopmark collection included many rare and exciting types, alongside a sizeable collection of world crowns and countermarked world coins. His collection was auctioned by New York dealer Paul Bosco in August of 1997.
Chopmarked highlights from this collection include:
- 1683 Netherlands lion dollar
- Incredible mint state 1878-CC US trade dollar
- A complete set of chopmarked Mexican pillar dollars, including the 1733-MF
- A complete date set of Mexican portrait 8 reales
The F.M. Rose Collection
Frank Rose wrote the original book on chopmarks, and also assembled what is likely the first large scale collection focused on Chinese chopmarked coins. His collection grew to over 500 coins, all of which are prized by chopmark collectors today. His groundbreaking collection still survives as one of the all time finest chopmarked collections ever assembled.
Chopmarked highlights from this collection include:
- 1684 Papal States Italian Scudo
- 1826 Argentina 8 Reales
- Brazil 960 Reis on 1805 Bolivia 8 Reales
- 1822 Mexico Iturbide 8 Reales
- 1799 United States Bust Dollar
- 1883 Hawaiian dala
- 1910 Mexico Caballito Peso
It is worth noting that Frank Rose purchased a large part of his collection from Col. Robert F. Kriz sometime between 1978 and 1981. Kriz also happens to be the photographer for Rose's book on chopmarks. Credit should go to Kriz for his collection, as many of the most impressive rarities from the Rose collection were originally found by Col. Kriz.
The J.D. Bowman Collection
J.D. Bowman was a Southern California collector who assembled an impressively large collection of chopmarked coins. Best known to collectors for his hand-written notes in The Chopmark News, J.D. was passionate about his coins. He worked closely with Santa Barbara dealer Paul Brombal, who scoured the coin networks of Asia to source J.D. with chopmarked material. This collection stands out as one of the all time great chopmarked coin collections.
Chopmarked highlights from this collection include:
- Guatemala Type IV counterstamp (1841) on 1828 Peru 8 Reales
- Germany 1848 Duchy of Brunswick 2 Thaler
- Mexico 1867 Maximilian Peso
- Cuba key countermarks (1872-77) on 1875-Mo BH Mexican 8 Reales
- Ecuador 1884 Sucre
- An extensive collection of contemporary counterfeits with chopmarks
A printed copy of "The Catalog of the J.D. Bowman Collection of Chopmarked Coins" can be purchased here.
The Ron Waddell Collection
Ron Waddell lived in the eastern United States and was a regular contributor to The Chopmark News through the late 90's and early 2000's. His collection spanned a few different areas of numismatics, but it seems as though chopmarks held a special place for him. His collection was impressive for both it's size and for the rarities it contained, some of which there are only 1 or a few known.
Chopmarked highlights from this collection include:
- 1780 Netherlands Ducaton
- 1839 Central American Republic 8 Reales (pictured)
- 1838 North Peru 8 Reales, pictured in Gullberg's book
- Taiwan old man dollar
- Impressive set of ink and paper chopmarked coins
The David Reimer Collection of Chopmarked Trade Dollars
David Reimer focuses on chopmarked US trade dollars and has built the finest set ever assembled. His collection includes coins graded with a "chopmark grade" at PCGS, meaning they are numerically graded despite the chopmarks. He holds the top spot on the PCGS registry and has held that spot for almost two decades. It is tough to pick a favorite in this collection.
Chopmarked highlights from this collection include:
- An impressive 4 MS64 graded trade dollars in the set
- All coins in the set are AU58 or mint state graded (outside of the possibly non-existant 1875-P)
- A beautiful 1878-CC in AU58 that I've seen in hand, it's incredible (pictured)
David's fantastic PCGS registry set can be viewed here.