Trade dollar help

Hi all,

I’ve been on this forum quite a bit, but this is my first post. I recently purchased this raw trade dollar and it looked good atfirst, but now that I have it in hand, I’m second guessing if it’s authentic. I would appreciate second opinions or input. Thanks in advance.

 

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It's a counterfeit. The color, the details, the design itself if off. Liberty looks comical. Hope you can get your money back.

 

I just pulled out and photographed this authenticated trade dollar just to do a comparison. My first thought when I looked at your photo was that Lady Liberty appeared more short and squat on yours. But now looking at both photos I take that back. The only thing really on yours is the too perfect toning around the right arm and head. I am on the fence. I can’t definitively say one way or the other. Don’t feel real good about it but can’t find a reason to say otherwise. Hopefully more seasoned guys will chime in.

 

Although it’s hard for me to say exactly why, the coin doesn’t look right to me. The date looks questionable and the leaves on the branch in Liberty’s right hand look too perfect.

 

Not sure if it's genuine or counterfeit but I do like that chop mark on the reverse.

 

I seldom opine on whether a coin is genuine. Others have much more experience in this. But with the quantity of trade dollar fakes around, do yourself a favor and only buy a slabbed coin.

 

I’m of the opinion it’s genuine though harshly cleaned. A type 1/1 The star centrils the denticles and the fine details all look correct as well as the distortion in the obverse looking correct where the corresponding chopmark on the reverse is. I think a lot of what looks wrong is someone cleaned the crap out of it. What’s the weight on it should be around 27 grams with the wear which leaves it at xf details

 

Thanks everyone for the replies. The coin weighs in at 27.2 and does not stick to a magnet.
I bought the coin to fill one of my last spots in my 20th century Dancso type set. All I have left now are the seated liberty dollars. Are they counterfeited frequently as well? Should I buy only slabbed since I’m not super knowledgeable in seated Liberty dollars?
Thanks again.

 

Yes. I would even take it a step further and stick to a new generation slab.

 

after last year when the fakes got so much better I altogether stopped buying the older 1850s and older coins until I learn more about them or other knowledgeable folks say things are good. So I went to modern gold, silver from usmint, provident, apmex, cointalk good vendors. Etc. Good places to buy older coins too. I'm very hesitant on anything eBay nowadays.

Here's my old Trade Dollar after it had to be cleaned.

Trade Obverse 2 by Clawcoins posted Apr 30, 2018 at 9:54 AM

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Trade Reverse 2 by Clawcoins posted Apr 30, 2018 at 9:54 AM

 

Now I'm intrigued. Here's mine, which I have always just assumed was authentic. Same year 1875S, but to me the leaves on the olive branch look a bit different from yours, and the berries on the olive branch are rounder. Exactly 27 g. 38 mm diameter, 2.8 mm thick at edge. My leaves and berries look like the picture in the red book. Any expert opinions? But I agree the chop mark on yours is cool.

 

I am going to throw an odd observation from the cheap seats here. This is as unscientific as it gets. Just my reaction now after looking at @ffrickey trade dollar....... I believe that Lady Liberty's facial expression appears changed as a result of normal wear and that lends the appearance of an average worn trade dollar not being genuine.

 

Absolutely real. F-15. Well worn and it looks like original surfaces or if cleaned many many years ago and the surfaces have recovered. Would have to see in hand to be sure of that

 

Yes they are too. Buy from a reputable dealer rather than eBay or buy slabbed. I see many seated dollars that are genuine but many have surface issues mostly old cleanings

 

The coin looks as if it's been cleaned some time ago. With the darkness inside of the chop mark I believe this to be the case. And I lean toward genuine but I'm looking at pictures.

 

Thanks @Mainebill for your opinions. I didn’t see anything fake about the OP. I thought the denticles were exceptionally clean and regular. Then I doubted myself as I read on.

“You’re the man” as far as Trade Dollars here IMHO.

Steve

 

Actually I’m not the real man is crypto79. And ksparrow is good too. Thanks. As to the denticles exceptionally clean and regular is what you want as casting or transfer die strikes usually leave them mushy or irregular. Same with the stars. Crisp defined star centrils are what you want. Though you can’t rule out wear and worn dies though I see that far less than in other earlier series especially branch mint earlier seated coins and bust coins especially halves. The hand details and eagles feathers are extremely important on these too

 

The "chop mark" looks like a chinese character to me. Could indicate counterfeit.

 

@crypto79 @ksparrow