Expert: Joe Hylas - 3/30/2009

Question
QUESTION: I have a student who brought in a coin and it looks like the 1907 Saint Gaudens Double Eagle High Relief Knife Rim coin how do we find out if it is real?

ANSWER: Hi Katie,

There are a couple of ways to do that.
#1  You can send it to Numismatic Guarantee Corporation in Sarasota Florida and have it authentictaed, certified and graded.  The cost for that will be approx $50.  You can visit them on the web at
www.NCGCOIN.com

Or you can take it to a local expert if you is near you.  However, the local dealer may not be 100% truthful with you.  He may say that it is genuine but of a low quality, hence it is worth less.

Or, you can ship it to me for a free appraisal and authentication.
Genuine coins are worth $4,000 and up, however numerous copies were made. Check to see if the coin says REPLICA or COPY.  You can also weigh it on an accurate gram scale.  It should weigh 33.436 grams

Please let me know if you are sending it to me.  I will then let you know about turn-around time as my travel schedule is pretty tight right now.  I am booked from 4/2 thru 4/14.  I have a trip to Europe for a large collection of US coins that can't wait.  However, I would be able to tell you when to ship it so I get it as soon as i get back in the office and I will make it a priority.

You can email me directly at  OMEGAPM@aol.com

Regards
Joe Hylas
Omega Precious Metals, Inc.
www.AllCoins.US

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Where would copy or duplicate most likely be. Also the year 1907 is written in Roman numerals. All the coins i find online that are this kind are in standard numbers. But they are 1908 and higher. I read on one sight that the words In God We Trust were added in 1908 so were the 1907 coins Roman Numerals for the year?

Answer
Hi Katie,

When they started minting $20 St Gauden's Gold Pieces, they were all HIGH RELIEF coins with Roman Numerals for the date.
However, the coins would not stack properly due to the high relief and the design was changed to low relief and the dates were changed to Arabic numbers.  So in 1907, there were both Roman and Arabic Numerals.  All dates afterwards (1908-1933) were in Arabic numbers.

By law, if a coin is a copy and it is the correct size, it must say replica or copy if it is one.  However, counterfeiters don't obey the law.  The mark should be in a conspicuous spot, or maybe on the rim.  However, if you don't see it, maybe it's genuine.  I have handled dozens of pieces in my career.  Be careful how you handle the coin, do not clean it or wipe it.  This is 22k gold and quite soft.

Regards
Joe Hylas
www.AllCoins.US