Determining Authenticity of Trade Dollar from eBay

Another Dollar But Questionable Authenticity

Earlier this week a friend who knew that I was looking for a Trade Dollar said that he had an 1878-S that he would send to me to examine with the option to buy if I liked it. Having received it, I can report that it weighs 0.5 grams under the 27.2 grams (I could still be having scale problems and will check it on a calibrated scale tomorrow).

Would appreciate your inputs. Yea or Nea? This did not come from eBay.

Last photo shows something that I didn't like the looks of.

 

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Is this a gate and/or porosity?

 

I don't think it's a gate , probably porousity like you said , but without being authenticated by a top tpg I'd stay away , I'll PM GD to see what he thinks . 5 years ago I'd say this was ok , but not now .
rzage

 

This one doesn't have the denticle to rim ratio problem the other one had and I thought the other one was real, so why not with this one?

Lookie good to me!

Ribbit

 

Without some excellent help from forum members, I would have gotten burned on the first coin.

Don't want to go through that again. If this one turns out to be bogus, I'll only buy one slabbed by PCGS or NGC in that order.

 

You forgot to mention the price range your friend wanted? That always helps in determining whether we should advise you to buy it or have your friend ship it to me instead?

Ribbit

 

$154 which included shipping.

 

What are the two "spots" between the 11th & 12th stars on the obverse? :kewl:

Ribbit

 

It doesn,t really matter which tpg grades it PCGS , NGS , ANACs , PCI , any one of the if your just worried of getting it authenticated , If your buying tpgs with intent to grade , either PCGS or NGC .
rzage

 

And by the 1st star , are they tool marks , hits . probably not casting bubbles , I hope .:thumb:

 

Besides Hobo , who else would you recommend ?
rzage

 

And given the Chinese counterfeits of TPG slabs, get the coin and slab re-certified by the TPG.

Ribbit

 

It looks good to me, with a caveat: H.T. pointed out two spots on the obverse. If they are just little dings, ignore them. If they are raised bumps, send it back lickety split. Raised bumps (blems,pimples) are almost sure signs of a transfer die forgery. I suspect they are incuse dings, everything about the coin looks very sharp and solid to me. Be sure to check the edge, the fakes almost always have bad reeding, and you can see metal blobs inside the indentations. But, photos are what they are, and if you want the best security, follow the advice in the last 2 posts, which about covers it.

 

agreed :thumb: its not really a bright idea to buy raw trade dollars

 

I read where the newer fakes have there reeding put on the same way our mint used to do it , also the lettering as on Bust Halves and other early coinage .
rzage