Counterfeit 1874-S Trade Dollar

At a coin show yesterday I bought a few counterfeit coins to add to my collection. (See my other posts.)

This 1874-S Trade Dollar is a cast counterfeit. In this thread I will explain some of the more obvious things that indicate this coin is a counterfeit. These indicators can be found on many counterfeit coins.

The first indicator this coin is fake is its weight. It is too light. It weighs 24.82 g. A genuine Trade Dollar should weigh around 27.22 g. Plus the color is wrong for a 90% silver coin. The overall appearance of the coin is dull (very common for cast counterfeits).

Another clue to the coin being fake is it does not have a Coin Turn. In other words, when you flip the coin normally the reverse is almost upside down. This coin has a medal turn with the reverse rotated several degrees. I cannot show that in a photo.

Below are photos of the obverse and reverse. I will add close-up photos in additional posts.

On the obverse note the general lack of detail. Portions of LIberty's head and part of her right leg are completely missing. Some of the leaves and berries in the olive branch in Liberty's hand are floating in space; the stems connecting them to the branch are missing. Also notice how the stems are missing on many of the stalks of wheat behind Liberty. In many places the denticles are very weak.

Also note the raised line running from the water (in front of Liberty's legs) across Liberty's gown. This raised line is caused by a scratch in the counterfeit die and does not appear on genuine Trade Dollars.

Oh, in case anyone missed it - THIS COIN IS COUNTERFEIT!!

i REPEAT - THIS IS A COUNTERFEIT COIN!! :kewl: :mouth: :hail:

 

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Note the lace of detail evident in the olive branch. Stems are missing that should connect the leaves and berries to the stem.

Detail is very weak. Liberty's right thigh is almost entirely missing as are parts of her head.

Also notice the raised lumps that appear in various places on the coin. (See the lumps in front of and behind Liberty's left biceps, on Liberty's neck and on Liberty's head. See also lumps in the field near the olive branch and near the stars on the obverse.)

Did I mention that THIS IS A COUNTERFEIT COIN?!?!?!

 

On the reverse there is a HUGE void where the molten metal did not completely fill the dies. If you need help finding it it is located at the first 'A' of AMERICA.

Also note the raised lumps here and there and the weak lettering in the motto 'E PLURIBUS UNUM' and the fuzziness seen on some of the letters and devices as well as the weak denticles.

 

Oooops!!! Hit the wrong button. Here are the reverse pics.

And YES, this IS a COUNTERFEIT coin.

 

Thanks for the closeup shots. This coin has red flags all over it.

 

A nice example of a cast fake. You see fewer of these on eBay now, the fakes seem to be getting better. I find that the dentils are the most frequently seen problem with these coins, they are often too short, weak, and the wrong shape. The rims are often too fat, also, they should be about 1 dentil's length wide.

 

Hi lobo, what about this 1976 s Trade Dollar, thank's

Vando the miss speling

 

Hi, I hope I'm not butting in, but in my opinion that is a very poor quality cast fake.

 

Thank you Hobo for the post, these are the type of post that have some meat. You stated that it was a fake and substantiated it. A+ my friend

 

Jim,

I'm glad you got something out off my post. It's good to know I have helped someone learn something.

Vando,

I agree with ksparrow - your coin looks like a very poor quality cast fake. I hope you didn't pay a lot for it.

 

A good instructive post. Thanks!

 

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Thank's for information.
This is family legacy from samosir, so we just know all legacy coin is fake for + 90 years old.:rolling: Thank's for internet appraisal & this coin forum.
I don't know how to talk with them, we keep 5 or more silver coin from USA, and we not a coin collector. But now I'm start to loving it.

Thank's a lot

regard
vando

 

Hobo great thread , you should do one each week , specially with your knowledge , kinda a mini course in fakeology .
rzage

 

That's a good idea. I'll give it some thought.

As we speak I am putting together a proposal to sent to ANA tomorrow. A buddy and I would like to do a mini-seminar on basic counterfeit detection at the 2009 ANA Summer Seminar. I hope they accept our proposal.

 

Now Chicago would be a great venue , but I'm a little biased of course .
rzage:thumb:

 

I would be glad to do the mini-seminar in Chicago - provided you pay my travel expenses - and take me to a Cubs game.

 

Well maybe the second half , I'd have to wear a disguise though as I'm a diehard White Sox fan , but only if you go to a Sox game too . Come to think of it it better be in the next few years before Wrigley Field falls down , that might be half the fun , seeing if we can make it out alive .:thumb:
rzage