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Coin and Paper Money Collecting/trade dollars
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Question
hi i'm in asia and i found some trade dollars how do i know if they are real or
replicas?
Hello George,
)
You would need more information like the weight of the coin and the mottos, and the surface conditions including the edge to help you over the computer.
These specifics would be compared to all known factors on the authentic pieces. If you do not have any coin collecting experience write me back for some different kind of help. I may be able to recommend someone in your area to look at the coins for you or give you an opinion on the dealer you are using.
You do not mention any dates or mint marks for the coins you are looking at. All legal true Replicas are the same weight and size as the real coin but are marked with a letter R for Replica or letter C or the whole word COPY on one side or the other.
Only Proof Trade Dollars were made after 1878 if yours is dated after this it is likely a fake. If the price is low and it is truly silver it is a replica Silver is about $10 an ounce right now so a true replica coin will be from $10 to $30 if it is silver.
All others are fakes or counterfeits not replicas. The vast majority of circulated silver coins in Asia were marked by tradesmen sometimes these are referred to as chop marks.
You should not be looking at a bunch of silver coins and see none with the assay mark on them.
The more convincing modern counterfeits may not be made overseas but by people in the USA trying to fool collectors to pay big money and fill the void left by too few coins available.
Some that were made on 90% silver blanks are still valuable but need further investigation. The trade dollars were a different alloy and weight and can be identified as so. Your specimens will have to be authenticated in person.
Many dates of these coins have known counterfeit copies being made in Asia and traded as collectables so yours are best looked at by a professional dealer.
I can tell you that many copies are not nice looking coins. The flat background fields are not smooth and many looked cleaned or polished.
The true trade dollar should look rather well made with the images on both sides. Many of the cast copies do not have the quality of say a 1950 quarter (if you want to compare it). Wear on the high points strong lettering etc…
Only by looking at and studying hundreds of coins do you train your eye on what to look for.
The best way to detect counterfeit coins is to compare suspected pieces with others of the same issue. Carefully check size, color, luster, weight, edge devices and design details. Replicas generally have less detail than the original when looked at under magnification. I use a 10 power loupe (when I buy) and a binocular microscope.
Professional authentication is available for a fee through the American Numismatic Association. You can find them on the WEB.
Always find out all about the coin you are buying, Read the book before you buy. Always buy from reputable dealers most will give you a 15 day return policy.
Thank You and Good Luck
PapaJack
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Coin and Paper Money Collecting
Answers by Expert:
PAPAJACK
Expertise
Knowledge of United States Coins from 1793 to date. Able to answer most common numismatic questions. Collected U.S. Coins from half cent to 50 dollar gold coins.
Experience
QUALITY CONTROL
United States Coin COLLECTOR/DEALER OVER 20 YEARS, U.S. COINS Worked trade shows,
EXPERT Consulting since 1990, Knowledge of all methods of fabrication used in the industry.
Hobbies:US notes, clocks, cars, computers, coins, leisure activity and crafts to name a few.
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