Way back in January I bought a roll of "problem dollars" from a well-known dealer. I'm doing a set of low-grade/junk Morgans, so over time I went through the roll and separated into "needs" and "haves" with the "haves" being put away to sell on the bay. Last week, I was getting some of these duplicates ready to sell when I noticed something strange. Even within the square tube, I noticed that one was thicker than the others. So I put it on the scale and it wasn't even close: 20 grams. So, I have to assume it is a fake. I guess I should have checked each coin back more carefully back when I got the roll, but I didn't think I needed to worry about a roll of junk coins from a major dealer. Oops. My question to everyone is now what? Do I just toss it in the trash? I have no idea what it is made of, so that may not be the best option. I alerted the dealer, just to let the company know. They claim they get these from a "major retailer of dollars" so I suggested that they pass along the info. Since the purchase was months ago, and being in a roll I have no way to prove it came from them anyway, I didn't expect anything from them. Which is what I got too - no response at all.
What is the Date & Mintmark ? I have seen a few fakes from China. Also when you spin them on a countertop & allowed to spin down, they have a different ring than a real Morgan Dollar.
I'd contact the dealer... if he stands behind his business and his product, he'll make it right by you.
You should post pictures of it so everyone here can examine it, and then offer it up as part of a Cointalk contest!
A picture would be great. As well as results of any other tests you can do on the coin (what kind of metal it is, etc). Not to trash them or anything like that since you had 5 months since the purchase, but it would help to know the dealer as well.
would be a good topic at my local coin club with show & tell about counterfeit coins with the auction table at the club. i guess everyone gets the feeling that all the coins are real to some extent even myself. so dont throw it out. snowman
I had a stamp made stating COPY that I stamp into all of my black box material. You can check a dealer to see if they have one. I never would sell of give away the coin without marking it as false. All of these fakes are having serious negative consequences in the general public. Almost every month there are stories in the general press on the proliferation of chinese fakes and warning the public away from coin collecting. Being a collector and not doing something about a fake in your possession to me is just as bad as selling them from China. If you can't find a stamp, use an engraving tool to write copy on the coin. We need to do our part to protect the hobby, just as much as we need help from the government. Not trying to preach to you OP, just writing this for everyone.
The ring sound is really close to my ears. All I have is the cell phone camera, and the pics are too big to upload here. So they are at Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/63765689@N03/5805117802/in/photostream http://www.flickr.com/photos/63765689@N03/5805117904/in/photostream
Your pics look similar to a few I have seen, the scratches make the metal look like a lead-like content coin.
You could just label it fake coin #1 & keep it in your collection. I have a type set of fake dollars hanging on the wall in my rec-room. It includes one of each major type (Bust, Seated, Trade, Morgan, Peace, SBA, Sac, Pres.). The first five are China copies that were purchased in Asia back before they got good at counterfeiting. The Bust type is dated 1804 so the set is not intended to fool anyone.
you could send it to me .....i don't mind adding a Morgan to my US collection.... even if it was a fake one :smile
