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Replies: 25 / Views: 3,025 |
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New Member
 United States
46 Posts |
Okay Thanks BStrauss3 I am new at all of this coin stuff, but I find a lot of coins while detecting so I wanted to join something like the CC forum to get expert advice for any questions I have. I did not know they had such a device as an XRF gun, but live and learn...appreciate the response and have a great day!
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New Member
 United States
46 Posts |
Another question I got is how do the counterfeiters make a counterfeit coin? (I hope I am not breaking any forum rules asking another question here) Do they actually go through the trouble of making a complete die etc or do they just try to alter other coins? Should I consider turning this coin over to someone to help in any kind of investigation or would they just look at me and laugh?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3184 Posts |
The reverse is probably copied from a 1921 D Morgan.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
747 Posts |
I'd love to buy it from you, if interested PM me a price. It would look great sitting in my album next to my 1888 CC!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3669 Posts |
Yep, Chinese counterfeit. They have used the same fake Denver reverse for several different dates of their counterfeits (I've seen 1896, 1900, and 1903 so far). This is the first time I've seen it matched with an 1888-dated obverse. (The date and legends are wrong on the obverse, as well.) If you look at the edge, the reeding will be coarse, irregular, rim-to-rim, and completely wrong for a Morgan.
The composition very likely is heavy in Cu, Pb, Sn, and Zn, with just a trace of Ag from the plating. It may be fairly close to the correct weight, but if so the thickness will be off. It likely will not pass an Eddy Current Slide test, and definitely would not pass a specific gravity test. Other than silver plating, I doubt that it has any silver content.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Interesting, thanks for that.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4233 Posts |
Although I trust @fortcollins when he says it's a straight-up counterfeit, check the edge and around the rim for a seam - it could also be a " Magician's coin" where halves of two different coins are put together.
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New Member
 United States
46 Posts |
Hey Birdman sorry I dont know what PM means. I tried going to your profile and found a link to email you but according to the powers that be I am not qualified yet as a new member to email you. I am probably not supposed to try to contact you this way either but its my only option at this point. You all will have to forgive me for my ignorance... Like I said I am new to any kind of forum
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Pillar of the Community
United States
747 Posts |
I tried to e-mail you but it says you don't wish to receive e-mails. I think you have to go to your profile and turn it on? Anywayz, if allowed, here's mine: *** Private information removed by Staff. Please do not post your address/email/phone number etc. *** I don't know what you paid for this, might just be something you want to keep as a reminder to be very careful, there are tons of fakes out there, China is not the only place these come from but they do the best at counterfeits that I'm aware of. I picked up my 1888 CC fantasy (counterfeit) coin for $30 but I knew it was not real at that time.
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New Member
 United States
46 Posts |
I found this coin...it was a (what we call in the detecting world a surface find) I was driving home one afternoon from work and traffic on the interstate came to an abrubt halt...I happened to be in the fast lane and looked over in the emergency lane and there it laid...I didn't know what it was but it looked like a coin so I hopped out of the truck and picked it up and you could imagine my surprise when I saw it was an 1888 silver dollar. Before picking it up I had never seen a Morgan dollar...I immediately went to work on my phone researching it. A few days later came to realize it must be counterfeit and decided I needed to be part of something that I could get expert advice on coins etc and that is how I came to this forum...I haven't quite decided on whether I really want to sell the coin or not but I will email you and we can talk...
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
Quote: Another question I got is how do the counterfeiters make a counterfeit coin? Pick up a copy of Numismatic Forgery by Charles Larson. It discusses several different methods. The book is interesting and inexpensive runing around $11 to $16. Quote: The reverse is probably copied from a 1921 D Morgan. I don't think so, the mintmark is too large to be a 21 D reverse.
Edited by Conder101 10/11/2021 11:24 pm
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New Member
 United States
46 Posts |
Thanks to everyone for the replies...
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2004 Posts |
I Think FortCollins sums it up pretty well and no question of it being counterfeit. If you wanted to try a test for yourself just to get familiar with trying to determine the composition then try a specific gravity test. When done properly a 90% silver coin should come in at about 10.33. Readings in the mid 9. something are usually copper and perhaps a little silver. Readings in the higher 8. something are usually copper or copper and nickel. Specific gravity testing can be an educational and fun way to determine composition.
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New Member
 United States
46 Posts |
Thanks for the advice Mr T...I performed the specific gravity of the coin and it is around 8.5 which confirms the counterfeit prognosis...appreciate the advice never thought about that method...very easy non destructive test...this is a very good way to test a coin for another confirmation to verify or nulify the validity of coins...
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Valued Member
United States
82 Posts |
When I was stationed in Spain, in the late '80's, I would sometimes see counterfeit Morgans being sold at open air markets.
You could tell by the look and feel of the coins, and they were always the same date.
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