Expert: Brad Swain - 11/5/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi , i have one silver coin issued by Trade Dollar in 1797 ,420 grains 900 fine , with eagle on side and Miss Liberty by another(but not only the head , is all body ) I don't have one scanner to put this picture to see... But U can tell me if is such coin real, not fake ? and which value can have? thanks very much

ANSWER: Hi Sorina, the 892 fine U.S. dollar minted in 1797 was 892 fine silver and also not a 'Trade dollar'. This coin should weigh 26.96 grams (416 grains) and would contain .7737 of an ounce of silver. It portrays Liberty from the chest up on one side and an eagle within a wreath.
A 1795 dollar of the same design can be seen here:
http://www.coinfacts.com/silver_dollars/draped_bust_dollars/1795_silver_dollars/
If genuine it may be worth about $600 to several thousand dollars depending on amount of wear.
Brad

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QUESTION: no , maybe i don't give U all details u need. I find somenthing on this site , only the year is another , 1797 , but the coin look the same .
http://www.pcgscoinguide.com/display_guidesubcat.chtml?guidecategoryid=28%26end= .
thanks very much 4 help

Answer
Hi Sorina, that design was only used 1873-85 so if your coin has a 1787 date it is an obvious fake, the same as if someone told you they have 3 eyes on their face.
Counterfeits and fantasy pieces mass produced in East Asia, the Middle East and Eastern Europe abound of Chinese and U.S. coins, and many other countries'.
A 'fantasy' piece is when someone creates or hijacks an official design and changes it to suit whatever purpose they imagine will make the coin interesting enough to sell to someone who is unfamiliar with the genuine pieces.
Chinese counterfeit factory: http://coins.about.com/od/worldcoins/ig/Chinese-Counterfeiting-Ring/Chinese-Fake .
Brad