Expert: Brad Swain - 1/24/2010

Question
I have a coin from French Indochina 1 Plastre 1908, how much is it worth?

Answer
Hi Frank, There were 14 million of these French Indo China 1 Piastre coins minted that year in Paris (A). This coin should weigh 27.0 grams and would contain .7812 of an ounce of silver. Collector value may be worth about $13.50 with heavy wear to around $18 with moderate wear to maybe $22.50 with light wear.
You might also try a library for a copy of the Standard Catalog of World Coins for pictures, values and lots more interesting info.
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 that will make the coin interesting enough to sell as a souvenir or conversation piece to someone who is unfamiliar with the genuine pieces.
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. Weighing it may be the best telltale of its genuineness.
Chinese counterfeit factory: http://coins.about.com/od/worldcoins/ig/Chinese-Counterfeiting-Ring/Chinese-Fake... .
Brad