Fake/Counterfeit Detection: 1881-S Morgan Dollar

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Author	Replies: 7 / Views: 611
CCFPress Press Manager United States 1420 Posts	Posted 01/07/2026 6:50 pm NGC - Raised areas and the incorrect shape of the mintmark identify this 1881-S Morgan as a counterfeit. The 1881-S Morgan dollar is not a coin that you would expect to see faked. It is easily the most common date in the Morgan dollar series, and NGC has graded nearly 212,000 examples—higher than any other issue. In MS 64, the most frequently encountered grade, an 1881-S sells for $85.20 according to the NGC US Coin Price Guide. Nonetheless, an NGC grader spotted a counterfeit 1881-S dollar in a submission several weeks ago. Check out 1881-S Morgan Dollars on ebay Counterfeit 1881-S Morgan Dollar This fake is not a particularly deceptive one, but the danger is that a common date, such as the 1881-S, can be easily overlooked, especially when grouped with legitimate examples. The coin's most obvious faults are in the fields. There are a number of raised horizontal lines in the periphery that give it a rough appearance. Looking closely, raised lumps can be seen near many of the letters. Some of the most prominent are below Liberty's chin, near the date, below the O in GOD, between the O and F of OF, and to the right of the R in DOLLAR. Raised areas like these are never seen on genuine pieces. This counterfeit was undoubtedly made from an improper alloy, which caused the surfaces to have numerous flaws. Other diagnostics that help identify this fake include the softness of the design elements and the incorrect shape of the 'S' mintmark. Most collectors could probably tell this coin was fake with ease, but many people wouldn't have given an 1881-S a second thought. Check out 1881-S Morgan Dollars on ebay Read More: Counterfeit Detection Series Report this Post to the Staff

Errers and Varietys Bedrock of the Community United States 73628 Posts	Posted 01/07/2026 6:56 pm Good information. Thank you for posting. Errers and Varietys. Report this Post to the Staff
CoinForMe Pillar of the Community United States 2115 Posts	Posted 01/07/2026 11:26 pm Had me worried there for a minute, when to check 1881-S Report this Post to the Staff
Marv65 Bedrock of the Community United States 10478 Posts	Posted 01/08/2026 03:09 am Oh yeah - you can tell something is off just from the first look. Report this Post to the Staff
jbuck Moderator United States 187637 Posts	Posted 01/08/2026 10:55 am Quote: you can tell something is off just from the first look. A slow and deliberate first look for me. A quick look may have got me, not that I would buy a Morgan or any coin like that. Coin Collector Since 1978 Avatar Old Avatar 7070 Eisenhower Australia Canada World CCF Members on eBay CCF eBay Search Engine Report this Post to the Staff
fortcollins Pillar of the Community United States 3622 Posts	Posted 01/08/2026 12:03 pm <soapbox> Every date and mint of the Morgan dollars has been faked, along with some counterfeiter-created fictitious dates and mints. This is the type of Chinese counterfeit that appears in flea markets, craft shows, garage sales, and antique shops. They deceive buyers and end up in estate sales, then end up being brought to coin shows by families who think they have inherited valuable coins, and who then argue with dealers whom they think are trying to "steal" their coins by calling them counterfeits. Pawn shops generally use an eddy current slide test to determine whether the coins are silver, but other metals can pass that test, too. What these fakes cannot pass are all three of the key tests done together: weight, specific gravity, and the eddy current slide. Obviously, an XRF can make a quick definitive content analysis, but those are expensive and not many people have one. Standard silver dollars should weigh 26.73g, have a diameter of 38.1 mm, and a specific gravity of 10.34, +/- tolerance levels. Those basic checks - and a few minutes examining the obvious issues - could have saved the person who submitted this to NGC a bunch of time and money. </end soapbox> Report this Post to the Staff
jbuck Moderator United States 187637 Posts	Posted 01/08/2026 12:12 pm Well said. Coin Collector Since 1978 Avatar Old Avatar 7070 Eisenhower Australia Canada World CCF Members on eBay CCF eBay Search Engine Report this Post to the Staff
Dearborn Moderator United States 94728 Posts	Posted 01/08/2026 1:51 pm cannot see them on the overall full coin image, so if buying it, you may not know that it is a fake until it arrives. Collecting since 1972. Learning from then on "Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." - Benjamin Franklin 7070 type set coin count: 51/76 Uncirculated American Silver Eagles My American Silver Eagle Proof Collection Sacagawea Dollars Innovation Dollars Eisenhower-Dollars Kennedy-Half Dollars Washington-Quarters Roosevelt-Dimes Buffalo-Nickels 1938-2005 Jefferson-Nickels Lincoln-Cents Report this Post to the Staff
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