Macro122 You are right. This is a high grade copy of the Riddell #371 a definite counterfeit. I do not believe the plate has been fully worn through so the core metal is not yet showing - that is a rarity for the 371 variety - they used thinner silver plates than the 365 version and usually they are found with the core worn through.
The odd coloration at the cap is a function of toning. An original Durango coin might also have very similar toning. The perimeter of the cap is higher than the center. The concave nature of the French Cap kept the word LIBERTAD from wearing off as quickly as the typical Mexican dies. The coin looks better even after considerable wear than most Mexican dies. That is why so many people think the French dies were far superior to most of the local dies.
The way to tell this one is not real is to look at the position of the long ray between the 10 and the Ds. The original hub places the ray tip just slightly to the left of the D. The two forged versions of the French die 365 and 371 both place the ray tip further to the left. The 365 position is near the middle of the gap slightly closer to the D and the 371 places the tip right next to the 0.
There are other clues but the tip of the long ray is best - simple to remember. This particular coin also has die roughage below the are and E of REPUBLICA on the eagle side. That rough spot is clearly visible on the picture in Riddell's book. The 371 is however, known to exist without the rough area and over time the rough area got larger. The Riddell plate coin was struck after this copy because the Riddell picture has a slightly larger rough patch but the outline of the patch under the E is clearly a match.
Before anyone asks my estimate of value of this counterfeit - I was the winner of the coin and I had extra in my snipe bid. Based on grade, I would estimate that it is a coin that there are far fewer than 100 examples still in existence. Well worn copies of the 371 are very common - perhaps thousands - but a coin with essentially intact plate is seldom encountered. I suspect most of the very high grade examples still sit in collections believed to be real.
But this is one coin where the weight of the forgeries was not well controlled, so a simple scale can usually pick them out - typical weight in high grade is 26 grams and worn coins run from 24-25 grams. I have only encountered one example of the 365 & 371 combinations where the weight is over 26.5 grams.
I mentioned that the 1832 and 1834 related Durango forgeries Riddell # 365 and 371 come in muled versions as well. So there are 4 die marriages - all are relatively common in low grades - 365, 365/371, 371/365 and 371. The 371 eagle die has a crest and the 365 eagle die does not.
Posted 02/19/2011 04:41 am
