1877 Trade Dollar

The best way to determine authenticity for these is to weigh them on a reliable digital scale. Authentic coins will weigh 27.2 grams +/-.5 grams. Let us know what it weighs.

Weight is key to identifying potential counterfeits, but not absolute. The counterfeiters are trying to turn a profit by minting these copies on non-precious metals planchets. The only way to approach the "genuine" weight would be to use a high silver content metal composite ... or lead. Lead is easy to spot. What would be the point of creating this copy of a common date Trade dollar on an authentic planchet (re-struck genuine dollar)? The bogus planchets will weigh between 19~22 grams.

Aye weight in this case should be the first thing to try.

Could we also have a better picture of the reeding on the edge? Most fake Trade dollars botch that severely.