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 Replies: 25 / Views: 2,400 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3327 Posts |
I am going to look at a large collection of Morgan dollars tomorrow. I am not a Morgan collector, but this person is selling their grandmother's collection. Please give me advice for checking the coins for authenticity. I will carry a magnet, but what else should I look at? Thanks. Edit: not sure what dates/MM are represented in the set, but there are apparently over a hundred available. "Nummi rari mira sunt, si sumptus ferre potes." - Christophorus filius Scotiae
Edited by Bump111
11/30/2017 10:47 pm
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2843 Posts |
 Jealous here. Do you have a gram scale? 26.7 grams give or take a bit for tolerance and even a bit more for excessive wear. |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
3327 Posts |
Thanks, BigSilver. I don't have a scale that I can carry with me. That would definitely ease my mind. Not sure what sort of pricing will be involved. If I could ensure that they are silver, I would be comfortable at melt price. Then sort out attribution later?
"Nummi rari mira sunt, si sumptus ferre potes." - Christophorus filius Scotiae
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3327 Posts |
I've heard mention about the tissue test. Would that be of any value for these? "Nummi rari mira sunt, si sumptus ferre potes." - Christophorus filius Scotiae
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12477 Posts |
Quote:I've heard mention about the tissue test. Would that be of any value for these? It could be. Bring a circulation strike clad Ike if you have one (or quarter if not) and tissues. Under a single ply of facial tissue, the silver coin will appear white and the clad will appear a light brown or grey. I just uploaded these pics to another post but here you go (silver on left, clad on right):   Also, look for CC mintmarks!  In Memory of Crazyb0 12-26-1951 to 7-27-2020
In Memory of Tootallious 3-31-1964 to 4-15-2020
In Memory of T-BOP 10-12-1949 to 1-19-2024
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Rest in Peace
United States
1559 Posts |
Ok, this is going to sound strange but it does work. I learned it from one of the local coin dealers.
Take an ice cube and touch it to one side of the coin with a finger on the other. If it's silver, the side your finger is on should almost Immeaditly (1-3 seconds) turn ice cold as silver is like a super conductor! Beleive it or not, it works. I have done dozens of exparaments between silver coins and clad coins. The clad will eventually get cold (20-30 seconds) where silver is pretty much instantly.
Edited by Tootallious
12/01/2017 01:11 am
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12477 Posts |
Quote:
Ok, this is going to sound strange but it does work. It seems plausible to me. It reminds me a diamond test I heard about. It's more difficult to gauge but, if you fog a diamond with your breath, the fog will dissipate immediately. If it's a CZ, the fog will take slightly longer to disappear. That's because of the higher thermal transmission property of a real diamond. In Memory of Crazyb0 12-26-1951 to 7-27-2020
In Memory of Tootallious 3-31-1964 to 4-15-2020
In Memory of T-BOP 10-12-1949 to 1-19-2024
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Rest in Peace
United States
1559 Posts |
Yep spruett001, same concept so to speak!  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3327 Posts |
Thanks guys. Hope they are real and can be purchased at a reasonable price!
"Nummi rari mira sunt, si sumptus ferre potes." - Christophorus filius Scotiae
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7375 Posts |
Maybe you can post a pic of the haul. so we all can  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Good luck. And remember that although many suggestions are possible, in most instances a seller will not allow you to play with their coins. Touching them with ice, tissues, putting them on a scale sounds like good advice, but if they were yours, would you allow people to play with them. If lots and lots of people keep doing that, eventually the coins would get all messed up. And a problem with any Silver Dollars is many of the faked ones are made with real Silver. People melt down common ones and make more valuable ones with that same Silver. In other words, if you do not know fakes really well, good luck.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2843 Posts |
As far as the ice test goes, I would not use that on high end coins. Ice is water and, unless distilled water was used, it will contain minerals and chemicals that may damage a valuable coin.
For common circulated coins, there is probably no harm, as they have already seen enough water in their day, but be careful with anything valuable.
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Moderator
 United States
188990 Posts |
Seems like you are getting yourself prepared. Good luck! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3327 Posts |
Thanks for the words of advice, everyone. I'm not the only person looking at these coins, so it may be a no go before it gets started. I can't get the tissue test to work for me - tried one (of only two) of my Morgan dollars beside a clad Ike and they both look the same to me. I've got a magnet, but that may not be useable. I won't pay big money for rare dollars, but if I can get a good number for close to melt value I will definitely take the chance. I think I can spot the obvious fakes, but I'm not schooled enough to avoid the good ones. So, we will see how it goes. Will post pics for sure if I can score. Then, you all can tell me if I did well or got suckered... "Nummi rari mira sunt, si sumptus ferre potes." - Christophorus filius Scotiae
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Moderator
United States
188990 Posts |
Quote:I can't get the tissue test to work for me Single ply is better than double. White, not printed. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3327 Posts |
Well, for better or worse, I bought a handful of the silver at the estate sale. There was a Tupperware container FULL of Morgan and Peace. Looked like probably 100-150 total. Here's what I left with ($20 each - no negotiation):
1878S, 1879, 1879S (parallel feather), 1879S (slanted feather), 1881S, 1881O, 1900O, 1926, 1927.
A couple look AU-ish, others are well worn with a rim ding here and there. I know I paid too much, but the time was right, I was there and had the cash. Will get some pictures up later and ask for opinions. Thanks!
"Nummi rari mira sunt, si sumptus ferre potes." - Christophorus filius Scotiae
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Replies: 25 / Views: 2,400 |
Posted 11/30/2017 11:11 pm
