Fake Coins.

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

If you are referring to my above post about silicone, I believe further, robust testing is needed. I'm willing to do my part.

I would be, too, but my faith in oysters has been destroyed. Not long ago, I bought a dozen, and only six of them worked.

 

[Tom S.]

Are the fake ones heavier or lighter?

Usually lighter, but depending on material used, could go either way. I would be suspicious of anything more than a gram difference.

There are other things to look for, but it can be dependent on the date of the coin. A really good price (as someone already found out) should be an immediate warning flag. Prices are varied though, depending on the rarity of the coin.

 

[Greyman50]

I would be, too, but my faith in oysters has been destroyed. Not long ago, I bought a dozen, and only six of them worked.

Butter or hot sauce????

 

[BigBoy99]

North Korea has been faking US $100 dollar bills for years. One of the reasons for the new $100 dollar bills.

 

[The Big D]

Speaking of coins, do any of my fellow Forum members buy gold coins? Have one (guaranteed real Canadian) for which I need info.

It is not for sale but might be thus my request for info.

Mods, can I ask for “estimated” value of this coin herein?

Be safe!

 

[diyj98]

Weight is a good test for fake silver and also the "ping" test. You can download apps that will identify coins by the sound of the coin when "pinged".

 

[THE PILGRIM]

‘The Morgan Silver Dollar coin weighs in at 26.73 grams (. 859 troy ounces) and contains 0.77344 troy ounces of silver.’
Based on the accuracy of your scale, shouldn’t be much heavier!
Lighter - if it’s really worn then it’s lost metal and should be lighter.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Speaking of coins, do any of my fellow Forum members buy gold coins? Have one (guaranteed real Canadian) for which I need info.

It is not for sale but might be thus my request for info.

Mods, can I ask for “estimated” value of this coin herein?

Be safe!

Take a look at any of the online Dealers.
S D Bullion, APMEX, numerous others.
They will give you the current Spot Price, which is basically Wholesale, as well as Retail for your Canadian.

 

[greenwellg]

When Pop finished his missions and Paris was liberated after he flew a P47 under the Eiffel Tower.
He went to Paris on leave. They gave him 40,000 French francs printed in the US mint!!.
Switzerland had the 7th largest air force on the planet after they salvaged all the planes ditched in Lake Geneva by both Germans and allies!!!
The Swiss used B17's for passenger aircraft. Not very practical when you realize how narrow the fuselage is.
Very few Dakotas got ditched .
Oh yeah there were thousands of kubelwagens near Le Bourget that had coal gas generators as a fuel supply, but they were all booby trapped.
Finland was the only country to pay the USA their war debts.

 

[Kinman]

This is something that has puzzled me. You can buy fake pre-1900 US coinage on Amazon. But aren't they still legal tender? If I was so foolish as to do it, I could take my 1880 Morgan silver dollar down to the store and buy a coke. Because it's still a legal United States $1 coin. Right?



So if they are making fake legal tender coins, isn't that counterfeiting? Shouldn't the secret service be involved?



I realize that Amazon is not making them, but they are still selling them. Doesn't that qualify as "passing counterfeit money"?

When I was a kid my dad used to put silver dollars and halves in our piggy banks on his return from Montana because he hated the way they wore holes in his pockets and "clanked" around. He was a salesman. In the sixties I used to rob a silver dollar from MY piggy bank and take it down to the gas station, swap it for quarters and buy an ice cold Coke. One day my mother approached me, took me into "the room" and said "What has happened to my silver dollars?" I said "Do you mean MY silver dollars?" I got another beating for my indiscretion.

 

[BigBoy99]

Just another reason to buy silver in bullions, NOT coins!

 

[glowe]

China has been making fake US coins for years. I remember reading about them in Coin World almost 20 years ago.

A few years ago, I decided to find a silver dollar coin that was my father's birth year. Well, since the US was not minting silver dollars in 1913, I found this one on ebay. I decided that it was close enough so bought it for $3. Cannot believe its quality for the price even tough it was fake.

BTW, it weighs 27 grams or 0.97 oz, so close.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

The ‘melt’ value of a Silver - Silver Dollar is $29+.
That’s the value of the silver at current Spot.
So - if you see Bo Dollars for sale at $10, Really?
‘A Morgan Silver Dollar contains 0.7734 troy ounces of pure silver. This is based on the coin's composition of 90% silver and 10% copper.‘

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Speaking of Morgan’s - I’ve had these for a while.
So why oh why is that grungy Cinco Peso hanging with those Handsome Morgan’s?
You Trivia Buffs know why some of us are partial to the Real Silver Cinco Pesos!

 

[kadams]

I worked in the middle east for a few months 15yrs ago, I could buy fake US silver dollars for a dollar. I bought 1 and its still sitting on the shelf, On another note fakes aren't new. A friend of mine found a silver mold metal detecting, I thank it was an 1832 Draped Bust Half Dollar.

 

[vt_shooter]

Just another reason to buy silver in bullions, NOT coins!

Great deals on one ounce US silver eagle bullion coins on eBay - you can buy them there all day long for less than the spot price of silver! eBay doesn't seem to mind that sellers sell what can only be fake.

 

[Muley Gil]

I worked in the middle east for a few months 15yrs ago, I could buy fake US silver dollars for a dollar. I bought 1 and its still sitting on the shelf, On another note fakes aren't new. A friend of mine found a silver mold metal detecting, I thank it was an 1832 Draped Bust Half Dollar.

I used to find fake US silver dollars at the bazaars in Afghanistan all the time.

 

[MelvinWalker]

This is what coin collecting has become...I bought these all from Ebay and I knew they were fakes. ALL are made in China.. I kept hearing about them in YouTube videos, so I wanted to see how good they looked and they do look very good. The size is perfect, the reeds are nice and the weights are very close. They are not cast like old fakes from the 70's, but are minted...None of them are silver and none are real. All were less than $9 each SHIPPED from China. The Chinese fakers add just enough wear, toning and patina to the fakes that they look real compared to actual coins.

My late father had a coin shop in the early 80's, and if these were around then, he would close up shop and call it a day.

Somebody above mentioned buying "bullion" instead of "coins"...Ha! I have a stack of 20 Silvertowne .999 silver one ounce bars. All are fake and they look perfect, and as good or better than the coins. My cost on those was $1.20 each from Aliexpress.

I just took these pics....Be careful out there.

 

[MelvinWalker]

A few years ago, I decided to find a silver dollar coin that was my father's birth year. Well, since the US was not minting silver dollars in 1913, I found this one on ebay. I decided that it was close enough so bought it for $3. Cannot believe its quality for the price even tough it was fake.

BTW, it weighs 27 grams or 0.97 oz, so close.
View attachment 780533

One thing about this is, that's an obvious fantasy coin....US Silver Eagles were not minted until 1986, so this would never pass for a fake, but everyone can see the details in it.

 

[RevV67]

I have several Morgan dollars. What is the best way to check if they are real? Do I have to take them to a coin expert or is there a test I can do myself?

If a magnet picks it up, it's fake.
Best at home test is weight. Should weigh 26.73 grams, slightly less if well worn.