Do you mean these? To my (extremely non-expert) eyes, the obverse and reverse look like two different coins. On the reverse, the rim and denticles are hammered, and the surface looks harshly cleaned but legit. On the obverse, the denticles are weaker and merge into the rim, and the surface on the lower half of the coin (especially around the date) looks like it was badly corroded.
I'm late to the party on this thread, but the first thing I noticed in Exhibit A is that the "U" in "United" has NO SERIF at the top right, which made me think it was a fake. Is this also a diagnostic? I know little about Trade Dollars. Thanks
Thanks for all the replies. Here's some new pictures to try to clear things up. A couple more full views with slightly different lighting. Perhaps a different perspective on the coin.
I looked through a lot of 1877-CC's to try to find one with the same MM alignment. I finally found one. 2019 July 11 - 14 Summer FUN US Coins Signature Auction - Orlando #1297
Trying to authenticate Trade Dollars especially circulated or chopmarked examples is often vexing. Allowing for marks from circulation I give this one about a 90% chance of being genuine. Weakness of dentils in segments as in 5-6 on the obv is not unusual on Trades. Overall detail on both sides looks VF. I think it's a legitimate die pair ( 1,8 not touching; tall CC). Nice research folks. and MM has posted excellent photos
I can see your coin is in a plastic holder. Is it graded? As for it being authentic, it looks like it might be ok, but we need better pictures to verify.
It's good then. As for hijacking. That's what this thread if for, asking about Trade Dollars and learning. It's an excellent thread. Yeah, grading companies would weigh a coin. The weight is a good starting point for authentication.
You would have to know the weight of the holder. Here's a list if weights for PCGS I found. It's from 2015 so the new ones may weigh differently. Type 1: Solid Blue-Grey label with full rectangular hologram on reverse = 28.7 grams Type 2: Newer Blue/White label with full rectangular hologram on reverse = 28.3 grams Type 3: Newer Blue/White label with small square hologram on reverse = 31.6 grams or 28.2 grams Type 4 (Current): Newer Blue/White label with strip hologram on reverse = 25.8 grams
Mine weighs = 55.48 g or (856.20 grains ?) So if , The Trade dollar’s specified total weight is 27.216 grams, but the coin can be over or under tolerance by as much as 0.097 gram and still remain of legal weight. 55.48 with holder - 27.216 coin =28.264 Holder
Finding the die pair with the same poor quality denticles and mm position gives me more confidence in yours being real. When I initially questioned it these were my main concerns especially with them being common hallmarks of fakes though the weight being good led me to believe it was a high quality one. Such as the ones @Jack D. Young has been finding even authenticated by the tpgs I’m not totally sold one way or the other but I’m leaning more towards real now. Again it’s tough to tell from pics but this is an interesting coin. A possible genuine one with many of the traits of a fake
That’s a scary one. But it’s not the first high quality 78-cc fake I’ve seen there was one posted a few years ago that fooled me too. Was cleaned looking but silver and the right weight and very good. But not the right mm position for any known variety That’s a super tough date anyway. So would need more research to authenticate