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Weight Range For Detecting Counterfeit Silver Coins

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United States
3 Posts
 Posted 03/03/2008  7:29 pm Show Profile   Bookmark this topic Add tscimae to your friends list Get a Link to this Message Number of Subscribers
My dad gave me a Peace dollar just before he died that was minted the year he was born (1922). I have started buying Peace dollars just for fun, and I know that the easy way to detect a counterfeit is to weigh it. A perfect Peace dollar should weigh 26.73 grams/ 412.5 grains. My question is how much to allow for wear? Is 1% too much for very worn coins or should I set the bar higher. I thought someone here would know. Thanks in advance.
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Becky's Avatar
United States
954 Posts
 Posted 03/03/2008  9:46 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Becky to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply


I don't really know, I've never weighed one.
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thq's Avatar
United States
3342 Posts
 Posted 03/03/2008  10:13 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add thq to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
I've weighed a lot of US silver coins, and found some as much as 8% below the specified weight (that was on a 1916-S half in AG, with very little detail left). The dollars don't seem to lose as much weight by % as the smaller coins, due to their thickness. Yesterday I ran a specific gravity test on a 1926-D Peace dollar, which is in VF and weighs 26.56 grams, or 0.64% underweight (the specific gravity checked out OK for coin silver). To get to 1% weight loss you'd probably be at Fine grade.
"Two minutes ago I would have sold my chances for a tired dime." Fred Astaire
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kceb10's Avatar
United States
392 Posts
 Posted 03/04/2008  12:51 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add kceb10 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
the best way I have found to spot a fake is to drop it on a table and listen to the ring it makes then compare it to a known good silver piece
New Member
United States
3 Posts
 Posted 03/04/2008  11:28 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add tscimae to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
I have been buying a few lower quality, common date Peace dollars and came across one which was about 409 grains rather than 412.5. My scale has 1 grain resolution. With the slippery details on the eagle I was somewhat suspecisus and wondering how much under weight would be a tip off as to this being a counterfeit. My other Peace dollars are spot on 412 gr, so I was suspect. I was just unsure if being 1% under weight was a give away. Thank you thq for your input.
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