Expert: Brad Swain - 4/6/2010

Question
Hi Brad,
I have a Chinese coin that I'd like to learn more about.
One side has alot of chinese characters.
The other side says HU-PEH PROVINCE at the top and 7 MACE 2 CANDAREENS at the bottom with a dragon in the middle. It weighs 27.5 grams and is 1.5 inches accross the face.
I could send you photos if you send me an e-mail address that allows that, as this one doesn't.
Any help would be appreciated.
Cheers, Gordon

Answer
Hi Gordon, genuine coins of this type weigh 26.7 or 27.0 grams.
If you have clear pictures (not over 1 megabyte each please) you can email them to me at tbirde@psknet.com.
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.
Genuine Chinese silver dollar coins of this period weigh 26.4 to 27.5 grams each.
Fakes: http://reviews.ebay.com/Fake-8-4-and-2-Reales-coins-from-ASIA-BEWARE_W0QQugidZ10...
Chinese counterfeit factory: http://coins.about.com/od/worldcoins/ig/Chinese-Counterfeiting-Ring/Chinese-Fake... .
Brad