Good morning all, This trade dollar is part of a lot being offered at an estate auction. One thing that CT has engrained in my head is do not buy a Trade Dollar that has not been certified by a TPG. I have placed the grade of this coin at VF30. The attached picture is the only picture the seller offers. They do not include the reverse. As such I cannot verify the MM. I have made my conclusions comparing it to several trade dollars of both S and CC MM's shown on PCGS and Heritage web sites. I have doubts about it because of the: left pointer finger is too short lack of detail in the brick mortise joints lettering of IGWT and Liberty slash cut vs rounded bottom leg of the seven gap between the head and hair bun lack of details in the wheat stalks misplacement of the wheat stalk tie You comments including explanations of your conclusions will greatly appreciated. I added the picture as thumb nail if anyone wants to blow it up. Sorry for the extra attachments. View attachment 1485793
Stay away from it - details are off, rims dont look right, denticles are sloppy, wear is suspect, as is the patination. It is a fake. Also, how do they expect anyone to buy a better coin with only one poor photo?
I look at Lady Liberty's foot. The Chinese tend to get lazy on the foot details. Her foot always looks cartoonish to me on the Chinese copies. I can't blow that photo up, but I agree with your conclusion. I would pass this one by.
From that crappy picture, you can't tell anything for sure. But...I lean towards real and I grade it XF40-XF45 details. Can't tell enough about the surfaces to make a determination of whether or not they have been messed with, so can't say whether it would straight grade. Here is a genuine AU53 1878-S to compare it to:
Agreed. I have been going back and forth with that picture all morning. The auctioneer who I have dealt with before responded to my email request for more pictures. That's all she has.
Besides the terrible pictures,ugly dark spotty toning that can hide a lot,I would suggest to steer clear.
Pass. The proportions look off to me, and the coloration of the coin makes it hard to examine the coin carefully enough. I think it is counterfeit.
Too lazy to include an image of the reverse? Immediate pass. I always go straight to the reverse when trying to ascertain authenticity. Counterfeiters are lazy and use the same reverse die for multiple date fakes. It's often the wrong type, different wear, etc.
I've studied $T for a few years and can add this. IMHO, nothing posted so far in this discussion is of any value at all EXCEPT it is not a good idea to buy raw $T unless you know what you are doing. Your photos are not good enough to determine anything of use like __ looks off!
I will also add there is a nice XF-40 pcgs on the bay for 475 now . You should be able to snag a nice looking XF coin in that range now graded.
My comment did not apply to the OP which turned out to be YOU! I didn't even bother to read your post past VG-30 because oops:.and please don't consider this a dig EITHER) anyone who needs to ask... Now after reading your post in full, what do you base your comments on? Finger too short - compared to what? The image is NO GOOD to tell anything - believe me, I tried to help you out.