I don't know what your coin is worth but it doesn't look real to me. An 1877 Trade Dollar from Carson City, I see why you're skeptical, no wear whatsoever. Fake.
Thanks. the edge reeding looks ok to me, well formed "lands" and they have beveled ends. So far, I am not convinced that the coin is a fake. Also, on the top photo, I think I can see a fine line in at least one of the grooves running from edge to edge (using a magnifying glass). This is found on genuine trade dollars but not, to my knowledge, fakes. Perhaps the owner could confirm if my observation is accurate?
The edge reeding looks pretty good to me too, but all of the marks on the reverse sure seem like signs of casting. It could be genuine, but I would need to be convinced a little better than I am by the image that was provided if I were to purchase it.
Thanks, large clear photos are a godsend! I couldn't tell much of anything from the ones in the OP. If I am interpreting the lighting correctly, those are indeed raised 'blems' on the coin surface. The defective dentils look 'as made' and not damage, which I could not tell previously. Also, the tips of some dentils from 12 to 3 show tooling marks on them. Many of the letters also have a rounded, 'pillow' look to them. IMO, a better than average fake made to fool collectors. Also, for some reason last night the zoom feature wasn't working on my computer and I could not get a really close look at the reeding. Today it is working and I see that: (1) the beveling of the ends of the reeds is not uniform (2) some of the reed ends are malformed, and not from damage and (3) the fine vertical lines that should be in the 'valleys'-- aren't there. My faith in the edge as a counterfeit detection tool remains firm.
The copious casting zits on the reverse alone -- especially in the denticles -- disqualify it as genuine. It's a *gorgeous* fake.
By way of explanation, lest you all think me a moron, yesterday I didn't know how to get the O.P.'s photos to blow up to plus size, or I would not have been so hesitant to call this one a fake. It was pretty obvious once the pix were the size of a salad plate, much tougher when only about 3" wide.
None of us think you're a moron. It's true that this is a fairly high quality fake and is pretty convincing with the small images.
I'm seeing many signs of casting on the obverse too with the larger images. Sorry @cash4coin I hope you didn't get taken on this one.
I don't believe I was taken, therefore if I was taken, I don't feel taken. Actually this coin is in a large binder of coins accumulated over many (30+) years. I have no idea when this coin entered into my possession, what was paid for it, or where it came from. It's an enigma coin. I'll send it off someday just to satisfy my curiosity. Thanks for all's opinions. When I do send it off, within a few months, I'll post the results here. I've learned a lot from the posts herein. TY
Why would you send it off? No chance that it is genuine. If anything bring it to your LCS and have them look at it.
cash4coins, thanks for posting the additional images. The obverse has a lot of small raised pimples too, and poorly formed dentils at the lower right. The evidence is overwhelming that it's a fake, I'm afraid.
Yes, there is evidence of casting. However, that wasn't even what I first noticed. The coin is definitely a fake, with a large number of identifiers. I am not going to post what I noticed here, to prevent assisting future forgers.
