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 Replies: 35 / Views: 2,925 |
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New Member
United Kingdom
11 Posts |
I have inherited a United States of America Trade dollar dated 1873, 420 Grains 900 Fine. It is not magnetic and weighs around 22 grammes, my scales are not totally accurate. I would like to know if it is fake or genuine and the value?   |
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Moderator
 United States
56855 Posts |
 Have you tried the tissue test to see if it is silver? Not my area but members will chime in soon to help you. John1  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Should weigh closer to 27g. to the CCF! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4468 Posts |
The example is a 1873 S. If the weight is 22 grams, it is a fake. There are what appear to be cast bubbles on both the obverse and reverse. My first thought was the coin is genuine based on appearance as the date and mint mark match a genuine example and the type one obverse and reverse are correct, so it appears to be a cast copy of a 73S. If it is a cast copy, there could be a seam visible on the edge of the coin. The coin has been heavily cleaned that happens a lot to cast copies to hide/remove the cast bubbles.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12057 Posts |
Leaning towards real/harshly cleaned at a glance. However, I say that with a caveat - Coinfrog is right about the weight you provided being very underweight. It would be best if you could weigh on it on a more accurate scale; if it really does come back as 22g, then it's almost certainly fake.
Member ANA - EAC - TNA - SSDC - CCT #890 "Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossible before they were done." -- Louis D. Brandeis |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2023 Posts |
Are those initials below her feet on the obverse? I never noticed those before on a genuine piece, and they look smaller than most chopmarks.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2280 Posts |
Has to be fake at 22 grams
You realize when you know how to think, it empowers you far beyond those who know only what to think.
-Neil deGrasse Tyson
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New Member
 United Kingdom
11 Posts |
Hi Thanks for all your helpful comments. I have weighed it on another scale and it is 27 grammes but it only shows to the nearest gramme. Hi paralyse I have examined for a seam on the edge of the coin and I can't see a seam. Hi Alpha2814 You mentioned "the initials below her feet on the obverse" I have attached a photo of her feet which may help. I don't know what I'm looking for.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2003 Posts |
I believe I am still seeing numerous pimples in the fields. I mention this because I got burned by a counterfeit decades ago that weighed just under specs and exhibited pimples too. When I conducted a specific gravity test it confirmed that my coin wasn't silver. I took a file to the edge and sure enough it exposed a brass core. Raw Trade dollars are amongst the most counterfeited of U.S. coins. I suggest conducting a specific gravity test on your coin. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4468 Posts |
Here is a die pair that is very close to your coin. The date is almost a perfect match with a far date and tilted left 1. The biggest issues on the OP coin are the denticles under dollar are elongated and the possible cast bubbles circled in blue. Bad denticles on Trade dollars are the most common thing that counterfeiters have trouble duplicating. To send the coin into a TPG will cost you about $100 from the UK. The value on a XF 45 Details Cleaned is about $400 if genuine. The 1873 S Trade dollar is a difficult find in circulated condition. Would I buy this coin? No because of questionable authenticity. The Genuine example is graded XF 45 by PCGS.   |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12057 Posts |
I tend to trust Slider on such matters. Even if the weight is relatively close at 27g it still apparently has other markers that make it suspect.
Member ANA - EAC - TNA - SSDC - CCT #890 "Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossible before they were done." -- Louis D. Brandeis |
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New Member
United Kingdom
11 Posts |
Hi
I've bought a coin weighing scale which will arrive tomorrow.
I will then do the Specific Gravity test.
Thanks for all your advice
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Moderator
United States
94786 Posts |
All go information here, I'll come back after a good weight has been provided.
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Moderator
United States
187702 Posts |
to the Community! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2003 Posts |
Comparing the side by side examples from slider, perhaps an illusion but is anyone else noticing the differences in the upper left arm thickness and the size and shape of the dates.
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New Member
United Kingdom
11 Posts |
Hi I have purchased a more accurate weighing scale and done more tests. Here are the results. My US Trade dollar dated 1873 Weight 27.18 Grammes. Diameter 38.10 mm Specific gravity test 10.33 Is not magnetic Ping test; resounded Tissue paper test; I can see a dark image Genuine US Trade dollarWeight 27.20 grams Diameter 38.10 mm Specific gravity 10.49 Can you give me your opinion as to whether my U S Trade dollar is fake or genuine? Thanks |
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Replies: 35 / Views: 2,925 |
Posted 03/06/2024 10:54 am
