Coin and Paper Money Collecting/Peculiar Liberty Coin

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Expert: Brad Swain - 12/15/2009


Question

SILVER-TRADE-UNIT-999-
I have a coin which on one side has a profile of a women’s face with 21 encircling her.
On the opposite side a scale with One troy Once Silver Trade unit encircling it. Funny thing about this coin however no date and only 21.5 grams on my digital scale, What is it and it is it worth anything?? I have pictures attached


Thanks for you time.



Jerome  

Answer
Hi Jerome, it's a fake. From the color, it may not even be silver.
You might take it by a local coin shop for a first hand opinion: http://find.mapmuse.com/interest/coin_dealers
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

Brad Swain

Expertise

I have been a World Coin and Paper Money collector since about 1965. I will be glad to answer any questions you may have on World coins or currency, tokens, unusual or unknown pieces and attempt to give you estimates of value and historical information about them in a polite and prompt manner.

Experience

45 years collecting coins and paper money.

Education/Credentials
BA History, BA Geography - Virginia Tech

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