Message:

<p>[QUOTE=&quot;jhinton, post: 1508334, member: 24410&quot;]The 1906-S Peso, the last of the large size pesos produced from 1903-1906 for the US Philippines, is a scarce coin indeed! The large size pesos were valued at two pesos per one US dollar. Due to that fact, the silver coinage in the Philippines was quickly disappearing as the silver value was more than the face value. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Due to the rising cost of silver, over 12 million pesos were shipped back to the San Fransisco Mint to be re-coined as the new smaller pesos. This resulted in a small mintage for the 1906-S peso as minting of this coin was stopped and all remaining 1906-s Pesos were shipped back and melted. The final mintage was 201,000 but the actual number released into circulation is believed to be just a few hundred.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>On another forum, I wrote the following concerning a poster who believes that there are around 1,000 1906-S pesos left: &quot; I would find it very hard to believe there are 1,000 left. I see a lot more proofs with mintages of 500 or less than I do of the 1906-S pesos. PCGS has graded 28, NGC 17, and ICG 3. That&#039;s 48 assuming no crossovers or upgrades which is unlikely. Assuming there are a decent amount unknown or in foreign collections, I would find it hard to believe that there are more than 200 genuine 1906-S pesos in existence.&quot;</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>The 1906-S peso is a scarce coin, but to make matters worse, the 1906-S is heavily counterfeited. Both cast counterfeits and altered date examples exist. There are a few diagnostics to help us determine which is a genuine and which is a forgery. In 1905, around OCT or NOV (depending on the source) the dies were changed from a curved serif to a straight serif; thus all 1906-S pesos will have a straight serif, except one die marriage. I will discuss the straight serif dies first.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>On the straight serif, there are a few diagnostics to look at:</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>1) The first point is always the safer of the &quot;1&quot;, If it is straight proceed to (2), If it is curved as in picture group 3, then it is fake, if it has a slight curve as in picture group 2, then proceed with (2).</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>2) Count the denticles starting from the right side of the &quot;1&quot;, the 12th denticle will be directly under the base of the &quot;6&quot; on a genuine 1906-S Peso. If so, proceed to (3).</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>3) Count the denticles starting on the left side of the &quot;1&quot;. If the &quot;S&quot; mintmark is directly under the 7th denticle, proceed to (5). If the &quot;S&quot; mint mark is in between the 6th and 7th denticle, then move to (4).</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>4) On pesos were the &quot;S&quot; mint mark falls in between the 6th and 7th denticle, there will be a die crack under the left wing of the eagle extending down into the three arrows as in picture group 2. If this die crack is not present, then it is more than likely not genuine as all known genuine pieces show this die crack. If the die crack is present, move to (5).</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>5) Look at the &quot;9&quot;, all genuine examples have a larger and rounder knob. If so, move to (6)</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>6) Check the &quot;0&quot;, on genuine examples, the upper inner lop to the right of the &quot;0&quot; is straight rather than oval (hard to see from pictures). If so, move to (7).</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>7) Check the &quot;6&quot;, all genuine examples will show the knob of the &quot;6&quot; in a slightly teardrop shape instead of round. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>If your example passed all of the above diagnostics, you more than likely have a genuine 1906-S peso. The edges should still be checked for seams, and the coin should be weighed (29.95g). I also recommend all genuine 1906-S pesos to be verified by a top grading company (PCGS or NGC).</p><p><br /></p><p>Group 1, Genuine Straight Serif 1906-S Peso.</p><p>[ATTACH]194479.vB[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Group 2, Genuine slight curve serif with die crack; 1906-S Peso.</p><p>[ATTACH]194480.vB[/ATTACH][ATTACH]194481.vB[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Group 3, Curved Serif, altered date, counterfeit 1906-S Peso.</p><p>[ATTACH]194482.vB[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>(This counterfeit peso actually made it into a Heritage auction, until the company was alerted by collectors that it was indeed a counterfeit. As a collector, it is up to you to educate yourself, do not rely on anyone concerning rare and expensive coins. Before you make the purchase, you should be able to explain to anyone how you know the coin is genuine.)</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Read more about the wonderful world of US Philippine Coins:</p><p><a href="http://www.cointalk.com/t211332/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.cointalk.com/t211332/">http://www.cointalk.com/t211332/</a>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

Your name or email address:

Do you already have an account?

• No, create an account now.
• Yes, my password is:
• Forgot your password?

Stay logged in