Help With Chinese Hu-Peh One Tael

Fake. China has zilch in the way of anti-counterfeiting laws (except for legal tender RMB yuan), so these coins are made all day long with zero repercussions. These coins were made during a very unstable time for China, and big silver coins do not fare well during times of trouble. Genuine pieces cost well over $1,000 in this condition.

Your weight is about 0.7g too light, but the coin seems a bit thick. Cupronickel looks like silver when uncirculated, but it's less dense. Solution is to make the coin just a little bit thicker because collectors check diameter and weight, but seldom have the tools or know how to test specific gravity.

I am no expert but the coin looks "off" and I think I herd somewhere that silver counterfeits exist(the Chinese are getting really good at counterfeiting)

Here are some pictures of a authentic and a BRAND NEW counterfeit coin.


Real:http://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces3851.html

Fake:(20140630) Not Allowed - Auto-Removed/item/BIG-China-Silver-Dollar-DRAGON-COIN-Qing-dynasty-silver-system-three-decades-of-Hubei-Province-Long/32589798217.html?spm=2114.01010208.3.100.heW2aS&ws_ab_test=searchweb201556_10,searchweb201602_3_10017_507_401,searchweb201603_1&btsid=89fc455e-e4fd-4698-86c0-c8e04f319c70

After comparing the rims of the coins. You're coin looks real although it may have been cleaned at some point wich removes value.
This is all just my opinion, but if my opinion is correct I would get the coin professionally graded. But wait until other people give there opinions.

Thanks zac....
Good pics!

If the dealer is confident your coin is real, ask him to make an offer to buy it and send it in himself.

My guess is that he won't, because he isn't.

If he offers you $50 or $100, consider it your lucky break.

For a change, I don't think this is straight forward and cannot immediately reject this as a counterfeit. I do hold reservations as I do not have experience handling an example.

This is not an obvious example where one can discard it as a counterfeit straight away. Weight wise, this is actually within tolerance weight level of what a tael is. I wish the photo was taken directly, not from an angle. Can you please retake another photo so that we can make better comparison?

Here are some examples which may be of reference

http://www.coinarchives.com/w/resul...&results=100

Here's a couple straight pics,

As I don't live in the US, I don't understand how the overall grading process works. Many Chinese coins often get sent to PCGS or NGC for grading. I'm certain PCGS may have the better edge of grading Chinese coins but there's nothing wrong with NGC.

While it certainly does seem that it has been been cleaned, if this turns out to be genuine - this is still a rather scarce coin to start off with. I understand that the grading cost may be quite expensive initially but there still remains the possibility of it being genuine. This is still easily a four figure coin despite it's condition.

Best advice is to stick to your guts and see through the whole process. While the majority of Chinese coins are deem to be not genuine / replicas / fantasy / counterfeit etc, this does not seem to be one. Best of luck and I hope it's genuine!