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 Replies: 12 / Views: 9,868 |
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New Member
United Kingdom
5 Posts |
Hi everyone, I just joined the community and this is my first post, hoping to pick the brains of any experts on Chinese coins! I recently bought this Chinese coin and I'm just trying to figure out if it's genuine or not. From the images I can find online, it seems as though both sides are correct, although I don't read Mandarin/Cantonese so I could be wrong!  The weight is 26.5g (see pic). Again I've become confused by online info... some sites imply correct weight is 27g, others 25-26g, another still 26.5-27g... so I don't know what to think, but 26.5g seems reasonable. Also it isn't magnetic. Any advice would be appreciated. If it is genuine, I guess the next task would be to find out the grade and value. This is my first 'old' Asian coin, so I'm really hoping it is genuine! Thanks in advance.    
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Moderator
 United States
34410 Posts |
@sasapk, first welcome to CCF. Second, you are smart to be very cautious about these Chinese coins, as so many are fake. I have a couple thoughts: first, hold a magnet up to the coin and see if it is attracted. If yes, then you definitely have a fake. If not, then you either have a slightly higher class fake or a real coin.
However, in looking at the English lettering, I'm concerned about the missing parts to the letters E and H in the word HU-PEH. I'm less concerned about the lightness of the last few letters in PROVINCE as that could hypothetically come from wear. Second, it may be my eyes or your photographs, but some of the words don't look like the letters are properly aligned--look at the C in MACE and the R in PROVINCE. Blundered legends such as partial letters or mis-aligned letters are also diagnostic of fakes.
Hope this helps!
"If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
Weight quality control was not the best with the genuine examples.
Weight in this case acceptable.
Opinions based on the pictures in this case helpful, but unfortunately will probably not be conclusive.
Surface texture from pictures submitted looks to be a bit 'iffy'.
Ring tone against a known genuine coin in this case would be helpful, but in this case not conclusive.
Pictures of edge milling may be helpful in adding to opinion.
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New Member
 United Kingdom
5 Posts |
Hello again! Thanks for the replies, much appreciated. Spence - Quote:
hold a magnet up to the coin and see if it is attracted. If yes, then you definitely have a fake - Nope it isn't magnetic! Quote:
I'm concerned about the missing parts to the letters E and H in the word HU-PEH. I've uploaded a closer look at these below.I think the first bad pic shadowed some of it, I can see the E ok, the H not so much but it sort of looks like there's something there in the middle. Does this help? As for the potentially misaligned letters... I didn't even see that!  You have a better eye than me! sel_69l - Quote:
Ring tone against a known genuine coin in this case would be helpful, but in this case not conclusive.
Pictures of edge milling may be helpful in adding to opinion I tried to tap it against a 1964 silver Kennedy half dollar, it made a sort of a nice bell-like ring, as opposed to the 'clink' sound of some of my farthings, halfpennies etc. A picture of the edge is also included below. Thanks!    |
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Pillar of the Community
Norway
1358 Posts |
I'm guessing it's a fake, although I'm never 100% sure if I haven't had a coin in hand. There are three mean reason why:
1. The print seems a very weak one, with letters half gone while the rest of the coin is looking good: 'ince' is almost missing while the rim next to it looks decent, for example. Same for 'ace' and 'ca'. I've seen this a lot in Chinese fakes.
2. The amount of the black and the blackness seems artificial: a lot exclusively around the letters but not on other places? Raises a red flag for me. This is also one of the things I have noted on quite a few Chinese fakes I encountered.
3. For what I know, the edge of the coin has broad valleys and small peaks. Your coin is not like that.
In other words, I'm not saying it is a fake, but if I were offered this coin, I would pass. Also because there are so incredibly many Chinese fakes around.
What you can do is measuring the thickness of the coin. One way to make the weight 'fit' with the description is by making it slightly thicker.
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Pillar of the Community
Singapore
631 Posts |
But I'm sure if someone offered it at 5 bucks, anyone would snap it up.
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New Member
United Kingdom
5 Posts |
Hi again The thickness of the coin seems to be 3mm, diameter is about 39mm as close as I can tell. diameter seems ok but I can't find any info on the correct thickness: If it is fake, then it's a shame but even so I would keep it as a nice example of an interesting forgery and not sell it. Didn't pay that much for it and given weight and tone and not magnetic it's probably silver at least. Oh well. |
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Pillar of the Community
Norway
1358 Posts |
Well... there you have it. A .900 silver coin with a 39 mm diameter and a weight of about 26.5 gram, which seems the standard spec for such coins from China, has a diameter of about 2.5 mm. As your coin is about half a mm thicker, I guess it's a fake and not actually silver. Do double check if it's really 3 and not 2.5.
EDIT: Please do use a vernier caliper for the best results.
Edited by UltraRant
10/13/2016 06:58 am
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New Member
United Kingdom
5 Posts |
Ok I checked again, as I was just going for approximate size of thickness before. Honestly without a micrometer I can't tell. I'm using a steel ruler because I have nothing better right now. From the image it looks like maybe it's less than 3, but whether it is 2.5 or more I can't say. It's hard to hold it all level and take pics etc. Have a look...  |
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Valued Member
Uruguay
217 Posts |
I think it is a fake. Compare it with this one: https://coins.ha.com/itm/hupeh/worl...bnail-071515Compare the details, like dragonīs beard despite the fact that yours appears to be worn some things are differents. Can be made of silver, only with a SG test you will confirm it.   |
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Valued Member
United States
262 Posts |
The mushy design and missing components of letters confirm this as a fake in my estimation.
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New Member
United Kingdom
5 Posts |
Ah well, that's a shame but thanks everyone for helping with this :)
Was really hoping I'd got a good one this time. I have another coin that's so obviously fake it's laughable (awful fake Korean coin with 1 whan on one side yet 5 yang reading on the other and a ridiculous weight of about 17g lol).
Well now I have two confirmed fakes instead of one, perhaps I'll start a side collection of interesting/amusing forgeries.
Thanks again, really appreciate all the input :)
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5362 Posts |
Just saw this post. The edge design is incorrect. The corners of the coin were ground off to conceal the fact that the edge design was applied with a ring die. Add to that surface anomalies texture - color - lettering etc. and it is a numismatic forgery made to fool collectors NOT made for circulation. A forgery made of copper nickel will ring. The tone is different than a Morgan dollar (it should be the same). Duration of the ring will be shorter as well. |
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Replies: 12 / Views: 9,868 |
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Posted 10/13/2016 01:19 am
