Expert: Brad Swain - 1/4/2010

Question
QUESTION: would you have any idea how much this continental silver dollar is worth?

ANSWER: Hi Willard, it looks like one of the many existing replicas which has no real collector value.
The genuine pewter piece would be worth about $20,000 in that condition. The silver version has only 2 known examples worth about 20 times that much.
You might take it by a local coin shop for a first hand opinion: http://find.mapmuse.com/interest/coin_dealers
Brad

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

QUESTION: Hi Brad,
Thank you for replying to my e-mail.  How can you tell if a coin is real or if it is a replica?

Answer
Hi Willard, it depends on the coin. Generally, most older counterfeits weigh up light, are grayish, may have a weakly struck look to appear worn, look cleaned or antiqued and may have a dull or grainy surface or have typographical errors. Newer ones show that the counterfeiters are refining their skills and obtaining planchets of the right weight to produce passable counterfeits.
Try this site for more info: http://boards.collectors-society.com/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/638253/s
Chinese counterfeit factory: http://coins.about.com/od/worldcoins/ig/Chinese-Counterfeiting-Ring/Chinese-Fake .
Brad