Saw one today while coin browsing. Came close to buying it for $10 just because it is interesting. At first glance it looked OK to me (NOT an expert, though I do have a nice graded one). Upon closer inspection the elements are all pretty crude and there is some apparent porosity in the coin. Been second guessing my decision not to buy it. I know contemporary fakes/counterfeits can be valuable in themselves. But since I have trouble SPOTTING the fake, how can I spot a GENUINE COUNTERFEIT vs. a modern FAKE? For $10, should I have bought it for a curiosity? Date was 1912 BTW and appeared to have an attempt at the "B" mint mark in the trident, but just had a flat spot with a void instead of an identifiable "B". rob
It is so near to a certainty that this was a modern base metal fake that you were wise to keep your cash in hand. This is one of the commonest fake dollar size coins and often one of the crudest.
I am currently not at home but abroad visiting the family... but I can post pics in a couple of days. Maybe you guys will tell me both of my coins are fake :-O
I agree with afantiques that it is a modern fake. I have never actually seen a contemporary counterfeit of one of these, and for good reason. These were made to such a high standard that any attempt to fake them would have been readily noticeable to a merchant that handles them, with very bad results for the person trying to pass them.
Thanks, guys. The seller seemed to be on top of things and would most likely have marked it or commented on it being silver, even if counterfeit. Britannia looked like a cartoon horror under magnification! Rob
alot of the contemporary ones said "For Jewellery" on them. Im still on the lookout for one of the debased spanish dollars we struck in canton !
