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 Replies: 13 / Views: 2,140 |
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Valued Member
United States
72 Posts |
Hello All - for the sake of documentation and so others can hopefully use this to determine if a 3 dollar gold piece is counterfeit / legit. This one came back counterfeit from NGC. Sure looks nice though. I had to learn the hard way. The coin weighs 5.00 grams. It passes the sigma 90% gold test and xrays correctly (the alloy/gold content is correct). The diameter on my caliper is 20.6 mm. I know this coin does get counterfeited quite often now. Would love your thoughts! Here it is: Photos and Scans:     |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7621 Posts |
I've always thought that there are way more counterfeit $3 Gold pieces out in coinland than there are real ones.
I STILL think that's true!
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11896 Posts |
Apparently, the 1878 $3 gold is one of the most counterfeited gold coins. Given the information that is out there, it can be surmised that the counterfeiters can "create" all the known markers. OP's coin shows the lumps behind the eye and the neck. It also seems to have the verticals lines in the bow in the reverse typical of the first die pair. When counterfeit markers are published, counterfeiters read these articles too and "apply their trade." I think someone here said never buy uncertified gold. You just never know what you're gonna get. https://www.PCGS.com/news/the-1878-...-counterfeit |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11896 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11896 Posts |
Bow seems unusually soft for what looks like an uncirculated coin. I guess it is unusual to see a softly struck uncirculated coin. They exist but they are rare because the gold is too soft to have significant striking issues. The bow under the wreath looks especially soft.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
If it is counterfeit, it's pretty well done.
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
 with Coinfrog. That is despite the possibility that it may have been made from recycled .900 fine coin gold alloy. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3848 Posts |
The only think that jumps is the slightly softer details. The date, lettering, luster, and color all seem correct. This is pretty darn good. Hopefully you can recoup some of your money.
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
5832 Posts |
Sorry if you paid it at in high grade, than it is hard to recoup.
Thanks for sharing.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4233 Posts |
The "Omega Man" counterfeiter, from some sources, also made $3 gold including 1878. I don't see the trademark omega-like symbol inside the R of Liberty on your image but take a look. If it weighs and tests as gold at least there's some value there - lots of fakes were made from real gold to skirt the prohibition on gold ownership.
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
18673 Posts |
the coin just has a mushy look to it and NS mentioned the areas that really stand out on this one
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5191 Posts |
Quote:
I think someone here said never buy uncertified gold. You just never know what you're gonna get. ...or never pay more than melt for a "bullion coin". |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2869 Posts |
Is there anything but the softness that accounts to it being a counterfeit?
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
There should be some residual luster in the lettering at this condition but the pictures do not reveal luster in this area.
To confirm what I see here, it would be necessary to examine the coin hand held, with a 10X loupe, just as the TPGraders do.
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Replies: 13 / Views: 2,140 |
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Posted 11/15/2021 4:47 pm
