Just wanted to share this for educational purposes. I bought this in Orlando from a well known and respected dealer. (Yes, I got a full refund, and he was greatly concerned). I gave it a quick once-over at the table, but nothing in detail until later. The weight is close, and the feel is right, but look at the close-ups.
I understand that, but is it just sloppy work from the counterfeiter, or is it a differnt material that caused that.
A lot of it is flow marks/bubbles of the casting. But there also appears to be a lot of mold nick or just poorly made mold marks. i.e. mostly those marks on the edge of the devices.
It got by me until I took the pics. And it got by the dealer I bought it from. I need to spend more time on trade dollars before I buy anymore. Personally, I think the design is one of the most beautiful of all regular issue U.S. coinage.
Here's an old thread that might be worth reading again... I nominated it for "thread of the week" (remember when that was an incentive for posting informative topics?): http://www.cointalk.com/threads/how-do-you-spot-fake-trade-dollars-anyway.63695/
That's why we have to check every Trade dollar and really everything we buy nowadays . The sloppy touch ups with a graver and the bubbles along with the weight if it's off even a little should be a giveaway . But I sometimes tend to not check a coin as well as I should at a trusted dealers . Good thread , we need more like this . Thanks C-B-D .
CBD, Please don't take this wrong, this is NOT a personal attack, but for conversation I think that both you and the dealer you bought the coin from are very credulous. IN ANOTHER INSTANCE; WHO'S TO SAY, that the dealer did not know what he was selling, or for that matter WHO"S TO SAY, the purchaser returned to him the same coin he purchased ?
I'm not taking it as an attack, but there's no point in making those "another instance" statements. We all know that sometimes dealers knowingly sell fakes. And we all know that buyers sometimes attempt to extort dealers by returning fakes. It happens. If this thread goes in that direction, so be it, but we'll just end up talking in circles. But threads like this with good pictures and constructive discussion can help educate and prevent. I know this dealer personally and that's another helpful element that made the return go so professionally and smoothly.
Thanks , not as bad as I thought , it's actually better than a lot of Chinese fakes . The grooves are relatively even it's just the ends and some flash on the ends that are off .