Tweet
Some research says that this is a counterfeit. Is it and why would anyone go to the trouble? Sorry about the out of focus shots. Im not set up to shoot these large coins.
-
-
Not sure about this one but trades are one of the if not the most counterfeited US coin probably due to their designed international exposure. -
It doesn't look counterfeit to me. Where did you find that research?MarkComment
-
Several years ago I was at The Bradford Pa coin shop when a man brought in about a dozen Trade Dollar to sell. The shop owner was at the top of his game; wieghing them all were fakes. Gene had heard of someone trying to sell fake trade dollars in the Jamestown NY area so he was allert to the scam. The fellow grabbed up his goods and made a fast exit.
GeorgeComment
-
What concerns me is the weakness of the denticles. The should be stronger.Richard S. Cooper Some have asked about my images I use, and I'm glad to say I've completed a DVD of these. Ask if you are interested. Newer members like these.Comment
-
The easy first tests, weigh it and see if it sticks to a magnet.Comment
-
The international exposure part is speculation by me but it makes sense if you think about the fact that these dollars were made for international trade, thus giving counterfeiters abroad ready access to them.Comment
-
They are selling Chinese fakes to soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq and they are making their way back to the US by unsuspecting troops. The locals set up little shops for soldiers and have tables full of different fake coins, bootleg dvds, and a lot more.THOMAS J.
Comment
-
Coop could be right about the denticles, but they don't look like they were 'cast' either. I don't have the experience of seeing many of these, and how they normally wear.
I skipped thru the article, but they mostly talk about the 'raised lumps' and 'depressions' that I can't see on your coin. Plus, the photo may be too blurry.
Just my opinions.MarkComment
-
LOL, my "assistant" was poking through one of my stashes last night and came up with a google ad that says any 1871 trade dollar is a fake. She misread the 4 for a 1. I took her word for it without looking at the coin and posted the question. (She has been relieved of duty and stripped of her title "assistant. I don't think she cares, either.
)
This coin has been in my possession for over 30 years and likely a genuine item.Comment
-
Why not send it to PCGS to be sure? Can't hurt anything and if nothing else increases its value by confirming its legitimacy.Comment
-
It's called a "chop mark" and they're quite common on trade dollars. They were put on by merchants to designate that the dollar met its stated weight and purity values. PCGS will grade chop marked trades and designate it on the label; they consider them a separate variety and not post mint damage and have done so since 2003.
In other words you have nothing to worry about by sending it to them for authenticating.Comment
-
Here's an 1878s that was purchased as a fake.I keep it as a reference coin.Note the sandy/grainy appearance and the weight is only 19.5 g.Many have this type of appearance.The counterstamp on the original coin posted looks like Chinese characters?Comment
-
Yes they are Chinese characters. As the coin mostly went to Asia, Chinese merchants would stamp the dollars as proof they met their stated weight/purity. Many shops can be identified by the chop mark used, and in fact there are trade dollars with so many chop marks that they're almost unrecognizeable.Comment
Comment