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 Replies: 25 / Views: 3,013 |
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New Member
United States
46 Posts |
I am a metal Detectorist with interests in relics and coins. So far my oldest coin found is a 1908 Indian Head penny but recently found what I believe is a counterfeit Morgan dollar 1888 with a D mint mark. I live in Upton Kentucky. I know that the Denver mint wasn't even operating at that time and the Delonegha Georgia Mint was out of business by that time so that is why I believe it to be counterfeit. It also reads almost 3 grams low in weight. However I would like to know how I can find out if it has silver content or not... |
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Moderator
 United States
187702 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1316 Posts |
Could you post a pic of your find? Maybe it was an O for New Orleans that got dinged and morphed into a D looking something?
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Moderator
United States
56855 Posts |
 . Please post good photos of the front and back. John1  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3848 Posts |
 We need photos to give an accurate opinion. Suffering from bust half fever. Want to learn how to attribute early half dollars by die variety? Click Here: http://goccf.com/t/434955Shoot me a PM if you are looking to sell bust halves. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
992 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
 to the CCF! |
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New Member
 United States
46 Posts |
Sorry I posted incorrectly I guess I was focused to much on the Morgan dollar than introducing myself. I will try to post pictures this evening when I get off work. Any suggestions on posting the pictures? This is my first forum so I have never done it before...which is probably pretty obvious...lol. I do have a coin microscope connected to my computer so I can get detailed photos of certain parts of the coin but it won't back up far enough to get a full picture. |
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New Member
United States
46 Posts |
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New Member
United States
46 Posts |
So now I ask again my very first question...How do I find out if there is any silver content in this coin?
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4588 Posts |
OK, so 100% guarantee it is fake. Denver mint didn't exist, Dahlonega only struck gold coins.
Call around and find a local jeweler or we-buy-gold place (shudder) with an XRF gun. They will be able to check the surface and determine its composition. (Basically, the XRF shoot x-rays and reads the tradition scattered back to determine the elements and their relative composition).
Of course, they will probably charge you a nominal amount - have to ask if it's worth it to you...
-----Burton 50+ year / Life / Emeritus ANA member (joined 12/1/1973) Life member: Numismatics International, CONECA Member: TNA, FtWCC, NETCC, EveryCountry (online) coin club Owned by three cats and a wife of 40+ years (joined 1983) Author: 3rd Edition of the Sample Slabs book, https://www.sampleslabs.info/ |
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New Member
United States
46 Posts |
Okay Thanks BStrauss3 I am new at all of this coin stuff, but I find a lot of coins while detecting so I wanted to join something like the CC forum to get expert advice for any questions I have. I did not know they had such a device as an XRF gun, but live and learn...appreciate the response and have a great day!
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New Member
United States
46 Posts |
Another question I got is how do the counterfeiters make a counterfeit coin? (I hope I am not breaking any forum rules asking another question here) Do they actually go through the trouble of making a complete die etc or do they just try to alter other coins? Should I consider turning this coin over to someone to help in any kind of investigation or would they just look at me and laugh?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3170 Posts |
The reverse is probably copied from a 1921 D Morgan.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
747 Posts |
I'd love to buy it from you, if interested PM me a price. It would look great sitting in my album next to my 1888 CC!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3628 Posts |
Yep, Chinese counterfeit. They have used the same fake Denver reverse for several different dates of their counterfeits (I've seen 1896, 1900, and 1903 so far). This is the first time I've seen it matched with an 1888-dated obverse. (The date and legends are wrong on the obverse, as well.) If you look at the edge, the reeding will be coarse, irregular, rim-to-rim, and completely wrong for a Morgan.
The composition very likely is heavy in Cu, Pb, Sn, and Zn, with just a trace of Ag from the plating. It may be fairly close to the correct weight, but if so the thickness will be off. It likely will not pass an Eddy Current Slide test, and definitely would not pass a specific gravity test. Other than silver plating, I doubt that it has any silver content.
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Replies: 25 / Views: 3,013 |
Posted 10/07/2021 2:32 pm
