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 Replies: 14 / Views: 1,541 |
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Valued Member
United States
264 Posts |
I am attending a local auction in a couple hours and there are three Trade dollars there and the air tights are glued shut or something so I could only weigh them in the airtight. They weigh 30 35 and 36 grams. The air-tights are older looking with white foam around the coin. Any idea what an air-tight like this should weigh by itself, and does this sound too heavy? |
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
I wouldn't touch 'em. Trade dollars have been counterfeited since the day they were minted, and unless you're an expert it's going to be a crapshoot. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3486 Posts |
Last July, at the New Hampshire Regional Coin and Stamp Show, I had the rare privileged of sharing space with Mr. Gerry Fortin. We of the Barber Coin Collectors Society and Gerry of the Seated Liberty Coin Collectors Society shared tables and exhibited rare and seldom seen examples of our respective specialties. Well, Gerry spends his time commuting between his home in Maine and his work in mainland China. He is currently listed number 1 in the PCGS Registry Sets for the Liberty Seated dimes. He exhibited that set at the show. Now, the man knows a thing or two about coins. He had a pile of of between 25 or 30 Trade dollars piled up on his table. ALL OF THEM WERE COUNTERFEIT. As much as I like the design, I would not dream of buying an example without doing a lot of homework. Just a word ... |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4085 Posts |
I had an empty 38mm air tite. It weighs 8.11g. A Trade dollar should weigh 27.22g, so 35.33g minus a couple of tenths for wear. 30 is too light, 36 is probably too heavy. 35 is about right but not sure I would trust it given the other two. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1353 Posts |
SuperDave has it right.The risk/reward not worth it.
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Rest in Peace
United States
9104 Posts |
Sealed containers are suspicious. I'd pass.
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Valued Member
Australia
243 Posts |
I would only buy uncertified Trade dollars from highly reputable dealers or auctioneers. That fact that this auction place are selling their coins in glued shut airtights suggests that they probably arent a professional or reputable outfit. |
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Valued Member
United States
424 Posts |
Definitely a slabbed purchase. My opinion.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1796 Posts |
Indeed. For all of the flack and criticism I dole out about TPGs and slabs, I would not consider purchasing something like a Trade dollar without it being authenticated beforehand. There are currently at times more counterfeits than genuine pieces out on the market. |
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Rest in Peace
United States
9104 Posts |
Keep in mind, auctioneers are not assumed to be experts in the items they sell. If you buy fakes, you're assumed to be the expert. Very much a caviar empty situation.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1304 Posts |
Is the counterfeiting as big a problem with lower grade, common date Trade dollars. I am looking at one from an online dealer, unslabbed but he guarantees all his coins to be genuine. After reading this I am getting a little uneasy feeling. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7192 Posts |
It really is a crap shoot with traded and Seated dollars. I have purchased one of each off ebay. The Seated dollar I am almost certain is not genuine and the Trade dollar I do feel confident about but I have sent it out to ANACS to be sure. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
14454 Posts |
Quote:Is the counterfeiting as big a problem with lower grade, common date Trade dollars. Yes, all Trade dollars have been counterfeited since they were in circulation so some of the counterfeits circulated right along with the originals. Just because it looks circulated doesn't mean its a old counterfeit either, they use tumblers and other ways to make a coin look circulated that was just minted on their homemade press. Every Trade dollars has to be assumed to be counterfeit and then the detective work has to be done to prove its not |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
870 Posts |
Great info. My area of interest is Roman Imperials, but I am currently working on a U.S. type collection and Trade dollar is one of the slots I still need filled. Did not know that fakes of this type were so rampant. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
14454 Posts |
the Trade dollar is one of the coins that probably have just as many if not more counterfeit coins on the market. It is one series that I can not recommend anyone to buy out of a top tiered slab until they feel comfortable being able to spot a fake and there are some that have fooled the experts. You can not even go by the ones that have chop marks on them to determine they or original either because they also copy chop marks to place on their counterfeits |
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Replies: 14 / Views: 1,541 |
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Posted 02/04/2012 4:50 pm
