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Bogus Silver?

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New Member
StackingFool's Avatar
United States
10 Posts
 Posted 09/21/2012  11:32 pm Show Profile   Bookmark this topic Add StackingFool to your friends list Get a Link to this Message Number of Subscribers
Hi. I am a noob and want to thank you for this great forum.

I bought this coin from a previously trusted dealer, and it had so many strange attributes
that I decided to look it up.

1. It is not a normal weight for a .999 AG coin but rather .645 ozt
2. It does not contain the word Silver or AG on it - just the .999
3. I could not find the mint on Google.

I will attempt to upload 2 images:






Bogus-Silver?

Bogus-Silver?
Pillar of the Community
SteveCaruso's Avatar
United States
1796 Posts
 Posted 09/22/2012  12:22 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add SteveCaruso to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
First, welcome to the forum! :-) You'll find a veritable cornucopia of numismatic knowledge freely shared here.

As for your coin: It's from the so-called "American Mint" which is known for selling cheap privately-struck coins for ridiculous prices. I'm sorry to say that any silver is probably only a thin outer layer.
New Member
StackingFool's Avatar
United States
10 Posts
 Posted 09/22/2012  10:30 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add StackingFool to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Thanks SteveCaruso:

Well - this was my first silver ripoff ... Too bad.

Thanks for the info, and financially, I will treat it as an easy lesson (only
bought one). It is just a shame that the only local coin dealer within reasonable
distance seems to be a crook. I will give him a chance to redeem himself, but I don't
have high hopes for someone who is registered with PCGS, and then proceeds to sell a
several times return customer a piece of junk as AG.

Thanks for your real expertise, and for the real scoop!
Pillar of the Community
SteveCaruso's Avatar
United States
1796 Posts
 Posted 09/22/2012  5:04 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add SteveCaruso to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Hang on just a mo as I was actually able to track down some more info about your coin.

Where I first came across this listing:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BOSTON-TEA-...047675.l2557 (This one the starting bid was at $4 and there were no takers.)

I was then able to find a copy of the CoA:

http://www.icollector.com/1773-Bost...ica_i8544148

It claims that it's 20 grams of .999 silver.

There's also another version of this coin that is copper and silver plated in several sizes as well as a tiny gold version:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BOSTON-TEA-...em27ca824e5a

And a 20 Liberian Dollar version that shares the same obverse:

http://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...99-132453053

What makes it so hard to track down information about it is that American Mint discontinued the design.

You may have a 20 gram fine silver one there.
New Member
StackingFool's Avatar
United States
10 Posts
 Posted 09/22/2012  9:56 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add StackingFool to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Thanks for the info - I didn't quite have my hands around the dealers throat yet I believe the coin is the 20G silver -
at least looks exactly the same and weighs 20.0xg. Do you have any idea how to verify it, now that I have an idea?

Thanks again for your help!
New Member
StackingFool's Avatar
United States
10 Posts
 Posted 09/22/2012  10:10 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add StackingFool to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Just noticed the one that did not sell, also did not have the 999 mark on it. How many of these things are there?
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