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 Replies: 11 / Views: 2,335 |
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Rest in Peace
United States
1729 Posts |
Passes both the ring and magnet tests; no obvious problems that I can see; weighs 27.03 grams. What do you think?   |
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Rest in Peace
United States
5375 Posts |
VF-20, but I'm no expert on authenticating these
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4989 Posts |
Details and wear pattern look authentic. If fake, it is a very good one.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2130 Posts |
Weight should be 27.22grams. I'm not totally sure if there is enough wear to justify the difference in weight. The experts will stop by I'm sure.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1415 Posts |
Seems a little light. I remember on a previous thread, someone did weight differences and found very little decrease. And I would suspect any Trade dollar and only buy one that is either slabbed or from my mother with guarantee  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2424 Posts |
makes sense if it is slightly lighter due to rub and wear correct?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4085 Posts |
I have an 1878-S in XF that weighs 27.06g that came out of an ANACS slab. So - I think the weight is good - coins can lose a slight amount of weight due to wear.
I am not an expert on these either but seems legit on the surface.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1691 Posts |
What are the ring and magnet tests?
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Rest in Peace
 United States
1729 Posts |
"Ring" test - drop it on a hard surface and listen to the quality of the "ring" from the coin. If it clunks, it's not silver.
"Magnet" test - if the coin is attracted by a magnet, it contains enough steel or iron to prove that it's not high-grade silver.
This coin has a somewhat weak provenance; it came out of a collection that went back a number of years, but I don't know how far. And as far as appearance goes ... It appears to have normal wear for a coin of this type. It's not a pretty coin, which you'd expect from most if not all current counterfeits. And it wasn't slabbed.
I appreciate the comments. I realize that you can't be sure from photos, but I am going to treat it as if it is genuine.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4989 Posts |
I'm 95% convinced the coin is authentic. One would expect a Trade dollar to weigh 27.22 grams minus about .2 for the level of observed wear. Your coin comes in at 27.03 which is right on the money. The wear pattern looks authentic as do the details. If the coin were a common forgery from the period, it would likely be nickel/copper. If it were a modern forgery, the details would likely be wrong and any wear pattern would be very clearly fake looking. As neither seems to be the case, I think you'd be smart to go ahead and get this one graded possibly just send to ANACS for the lowest fee the grade is pretty clear on it so really you just want their stamp of approval that it is authentic |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1348 Posts |
Save the money! unless you plane on selling it there is no ned to grade this coin. You will pay $40 for a coin that will be worth a couple hundred bucks if that.
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Rest in Peace
United States
1729 Posts |
I have no plan to sell this one and have no reason to get it graded. It now resides in my collection as a USA type coin, and I'm happy with it. (On the other hand, the auction house I got this one from -also a coin dealership) has a couple more Trade dollars up for auction tonight, and I don't like the looks of them. Too "pretty".) |
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Replies: 11 / Views: 2,335 |
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Posted 03/18/2011 2:42 pm
