Coin and Paper Money Collecting/silver coin

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Expert: Brad Swain - 2/6/2010


Question

coin
Is this a real coin? What is this? How old? Maybe it is silver?

Answer
Hi Vappu, Genuine Chinese silver dollar coins of this 1914 design featuring General Yuan Shih-kai weigh 26.4 grams and contain .7555 of an ounce of silver. The most common with edge reeding like a U.S. quarter may be worth about $15 with moderate wear to around $25 with light wear.
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'.
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

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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