Buying Trade Dollars Without Fear: Counterfeit Information

PCGS - Trade dollars are popular as both a type coin and as a series collectible to be collected by date and mintmark. But this scarce 19th-century silver dollar struck from 1873 through 1885 poses collectors a bevy of challenges, including finding pieces that are the right price, boast problem-free surfaces, and most importantly are authentic. While not categorically the rarest or most elusive of United States coins, Trade dollars are among the most counterfeited, and this unnerving situation is nothing new. For decades, numismatists have had to be on their toes when collecting Trade dollars. There are no hard numbers to report exactly how many counterfeit Trade dollars exist, but it's safe to say their presence is increasing by the day and surely far supersede in number the authentic specimens in existence. You've got to be careful when buying Trade dollars today.


1885 Trade dollar PCGS Gold Shield PR65+DCAM

Trade Dollar Counterfeit Dangers Are Increasing

The problem of counterfeit Trade dollars today is pervasive and multifold. The rise of online marketplaces surely hasn't helped the matter, with many of these counterfeit Trade dollars turning up on popular online auction websites. The vast majority of these fake coins originate from China, and they're sold online for a fraction of the price of authentic pieces. Further complicating the situation today is that some of these fake Trade dollars appear remarkably convincing, due to the advancements in the creation of die creation and minting - technologies that were originally created for legitimate purposes but are now becoming available more affordably to unscrupulous individuals.

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