| Author |
 Replies: 9 / Views: 4,010 |
|
|
New Member
United States
4 Posts |
Hi All, I'm a noob. I was wondering if someone could give me the approximate value of a couple of coins I'd like to sell. One in particular is the same as this one someone else was asking about in the forum: https://www.ebay.com/itm/150209929612. From what I've seen online, it appears there are a lot of forgeries about. My two coins I received from my grandmother. They are in a plastic case from the washington mint . It shows the 2 of them cased side by side as: "Manchu Dynasty - last Chinese Dynasty" and "SUN YAT-SEN - First Chinese Republic." On the back reads: "Certificate of authenticity - This certifies that each chinese silver dollar is completely authentic and was minted as official coin of the realm. Each silver dollar measures 39mm in diameter and contains a minimum of 412.5 grains of .900 fine silver. The Washington mint further certifies that this public release was conducted in full accordance with established guidelines and practices." I'll try to get a picture up when a camera avails itself to me. Anyway They seem pretty verifiably authentic. Given that there are ones on E-bay for about $5 and another for @2200.00 I figured I should try to research it a bit before tossing it out there. I appreciate any insight, thanks, Kevin |
|
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Australia
3831 Posts |
I'm quite curious - I've never heard of a Washington mint and a quick google search failed to tell me anything. I'm somewhat suspicious but do post pictures when you can. Welcome to coincommunity by the way.
|
|
New Member
 United States
4 Posts |
Here's the pics... Image:  Front.jpg86.79 KB Image: Back.jpg80.61 KB I hope someone knows. BTW, The back corner says copyright 83' |
|
Pillar of the Community
Australia
2830 Posts |
G'day, these coins are frequently the subject of forgery. There have been a few previous threads regarding them, and others. In China, forgeries/copies can be had for $1 each, if you bargain well.
But, somewhere in the world, there must exist, or have existed, some genuine Chinese silver dollars. Perhaps you have them ! I don't know what interest there is in genuine coins of these types, so I can't help with values.
I've never heard of the Washington mint - but I don't collect American coins, yet.
As I read the text of the certificate, the mint is not claiming to have minted the coins; but to verify that these coins were legal tender and genuine when minted. An interesting manifestation of "expertise".
Peter in Oz
|
|
New Member
United States
4 Posts |
Here's a close up if that helps anyone. A bit of glare from the flash on the plastic case.. Image: magnified.jpg86.03 KB |
|
Moderator
 Australia
16834 Posts |
quote:
...I've never heard of a Washington mint and a quick google search failed to tell me anything...
Then you'll have to try a slow Google search.  The Washington Mint was a private "mint" in America, making collector medals and compiled "sets" like yours. Their finest hour was apparently during the 2000 US Presidential campaign, when they made this Bush/Gore medal. There's a link to the Washington Mint website at the bottom of that CNN article, but that link now redirects to a similar organization named "Collectible America". A post on another forum that came up on the Google search mentions that the Washington Mint got sued to bankruptcy by a rival for copying their medal designs; presumably CA took over their website. Frankly, I wouldn't trust the "Certificate of Authenticity" of an outfit like that. Either they probably wouldn't have the knowledge or expertise to detect a fake, or they made them themselves.  Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
|
|
New Member
United States
4 Posts |
Sap,
Yeah, I too had a rather productive Google search in this area
that was disheartening. Lawsuits from the U.S. Mint for misrepresentation. And what would a mint be doing verifying foriegn currency anyway? That said, first let me say that I'm not a Numesismatist or whatever and am simply one of the untold (insert numerical value here) that are facing foreclosure and homelessness.
So on a wing and a prayer I was hoping this was something of true value. Perhaps it is. Which is why I asked for the expertise of this forum. I'm not looking to defraud anyone. Hell, I know what it's like.
That's the sort of thing that happened to me and landed me in this scenario to begin with. But I think this opens a larger issue for you who are in the know. Given the information availed to me, I can E-bay this as genuine and authentic. Perhaps I could make a killing. And I wouldn't be mis-representing the goods as I am not the one who wrote the description. I'd hope that they were real and the buyer would in turn profit. Reading these threads has been enlightening, ie; some counterfeits are valuable by virtue of them being fake to begin with. Not perhaps this one but it's still very interesting. It's akin to the artificial value placed on so called 'art' that is paint splattered on a canvas or a vision of the virgin mary in a pretzel.
Who am I to judge. I was just trying to determine an appropriate starting bid so I can make a buck and what I could express as to its authenticity without being party to fraud, albeit implicit and unintended.
K~
|
|
Moderator
Australia
16834 Posts |
I'm at home now with my books, so let's look these up.
The "Imperial" dollar is from Chihli Province, listed as KM/Y# 73.2 in the catalogue. "Year 34" correlates to 1908, although Krause My 2006 edition gives a price of $20 in Very Fine. Some types of this dollar (though apparently not this particular variety)
The "Republic" dollar is dated Year 32 of the Republic, corresponding to 1934. Listed in Krause as KM/Y# 345, CV $15 in Extremely Fine. Krause also notes that in 1949, the Americans struck 30 million "restrikes" of this type and date, to help fund the Nationalists during the Chinese civil war.
Neither of these coins are particularly scarce varieties. Assuming the set really was assembled in 1983, it's not unreasonable to suppose these coins are genuine. It's also possible, as I said before, that the coins they bought to put in their sets weren't screened very carefully, and a few fakes slipped into the mix.
First thing is, get those coins out of that holder. If you're intending to sell those coins, you won't get any extra money for having those coins in that holder, and may well get less. You'd probably get more money in total by selling them individually anyway. And we can't test them for authenticity while they're stuck in that holder.
Easiest test is weight. The coins should both weigh around 26.7 grams.
Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
|
|
Valued Member
United States
303 Posts |
I saw the same set, but it had a blue background instead of white. It was for sale at an antique store. I can't remember the price, I think it was for $40. I wanted to buy it, but the coins were cleaned and shined, but for the silver value it was ok... but that didn't persuade me.
Not sure how far back the Chinese made fakes of those coins. The set had a copyright date of early eighties, I think 1983, like you mentioned.
Sap, I think you meant the 23rd year of the Republic?
|
|
Moderator
Australia
16834 Posts |
quote:
Sap, I think you meant the 23rd year of the Republic?
Yep. Fingers must've slipped...   Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
|
| |
Replies: 9 / Views: 4,010 |
|
Posted 03/16/2008 1:14 pm
Front.jpg
Back.jpg
magnified.jpg
