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 Replies: 56 / Views: 3,848 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
751 Posts |
These are three dollars I bought as bullion. Unfortunately, they don't heft like an ounce of silver. I have yet to buy a numismatic scale (or powder scale  ), so I don't know exactly what they weigh. I uploaded pics to my brand new image gallery (thanks, Bobby): http://www.coincommunity.org/galler...hp?album=224I suspect they're not only fakes, but bad fakes. I paid my tuition, please someone help me to learn from my mistake. I would appreciate if you would point out some of the more obvious signs. TIA Image Insert: Image Insert: Image Insert: Image Insert: Image Insert: Image Insert: Edited to remove an echo Edited by texasmick
08/09/2006 11:25 pm
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Valued Member
United States
70 Posts |
I have an 1888 that I am 90% sure is a fake as well. Like you said, it just doesn't feel like the others. I have ordered a scale, and should know within a couple of days. If you don't mind my tagging onto your thread here, I was wondering if someone could tell me how telling is the scale when it comes to Counterfeit Detection. I imagine there are going to be slight differences, but what is a good range to expect? Also, would a micrometer be a useful tool to measure diameter and thickness? I know some people can tell by looking, but there has to be a way that a newbie can definitively know if a coin is fake. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1626 Posts |
Hi,
There is a link on this site called "US Coin Facts"
this will give you the weight of the coins and more.
Tim
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
751 Posts |
Not to put words in Quick's mouth, but I believe he is interested in the expected departure from nominal wieght (er, mass). I think Swamperbob has posted something like that for Trade dollars in the past. I don't recall seeing it for Morgans. Of course, it would depend on condition--a worn coin will contain less silver. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4589 Posts |
truley texasmick your coins look authentic to me. Sorry maybe swamperbob will chime in and be able to give some info..
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
14454 Posts |
I have to say it also, those things look real to me also, has the correct obverse and reverse die marriage for each year and all
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1247 Posts |
I believe 1% is the tolerance for U.S. Federal coins. That's only useful with cast coins however. They can also strike counterfeits from dies with properly prepared planchets that will meet the weight and diameter specs.
You can try tapping the edge with the metal band under a pencil eraser and see if rings right. A cast usually won't ring the way it should. You can also look for tooling that's trying to cover up a casting port. If it was cast there's a casting port somewhere that's been tooled over to try and hide it.
What's up with that rim and edge below the 86 on the 1886 Morgan?
This is why we need authentication certificates! There are collectors, more and more everyday it seems, who like their coins raw but still need authentication.
Edited by longnine009
08/10/2006 02:48 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7123 Posts |
Hi Texas
from the pics ,,Nothing jumps out that makes me think these coins are not authentic,, but of sourse you have an advantage over the pics ,,You can handle the coins .
Rick
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Pillar Of The Community
3147 Posts |
They look like the real thing to me as I don't see a counterfeiter wasting his time on common date Morgans or Peace dollars. Also might add the U.S. silver dollar is not a one ounce coin and never has been. It would be much easier to be absolutely certain if the coins were in my hands but my best guess, by the photos, is they are genuine. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
751 Posts |
Thanks for the opinions, all. I'm relieved that at least they're not bad fakes.  I will get a photo of that edge tonight, longnine. Terry, thanks for setting me straight. What I should have said was that they didn't heft like my other Morgan & Peace dollars. |
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
Set up a round pencil and a popsicle stick as a scale. If you can get two known-good Morgans to balance, you'll have an accurate-enough scale to test these coins against a good one. If the weight is right, you'll need to get them physically into the hands of an expert to be sure.
I don't like the looks of the dates on any of them.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1703 Posts |
I would be a little curious about the ? looking mark next to the neck on the 1878. The discolorization on these coins don't seem to fit either.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
751 Posts |
Don't trust the color, TLS, they're silver colored, not bronze like the photos would suggest. No more popsicle sticks for me, I bought a scale. It's a Fuzion Nitro (NTR 400) and it cost $30+tax. It's small (100 x 75 x 15 mm), digital, and weighs in g, oz, grains, and carats. No more calling gun shops asking for powder scales.  At the coin shop, I had them measured as well as weighed. Here are their vitals: Coin__________diameter (mm)__________weight (g) Authentic__________38.1_________________26.73 1878______________37.5_________________20.1 1886______________37.5_________________19.1 1922______________37.3_________________19.6 I repeat my call for visible defects. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1247 Posts |
I don't collect Morgans or Peace dollars but the weights don't seem be too promising. It's interesting too that with the colors there is shade difference in the areas of wear just like there should be. I wonder now how they did that, if it's a fake? |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
WOW undersized as well as underweight  Are there any lumps in between the denticles of the Morgans? The denticles underneath the date on the 1878 look really mushy, possible indication of a casting. |
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Valued Member
United States
70 Posts |
I just got my scale and will be putting mine to the test here shortly. This is such a shame. I read somewhere a simple silver test was to take a tissue and place it over the coin, and it should come through white. The more silver (90%) the whiter it should appear through the tissue. I don't know how telling this is.
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Replies: 56 / Views: 3,848 |
Posted 08/09/2006 11:22 pm
