Coin and Paper Money Collecting/A 1799 Silver Dollar

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Expert: - 3/17/2011


Question

1799 silver dollar
Hey Ronald! Quick question, I have a 1799 Silver Dollar I want to know if it's real or fake. Thank you for your time.

Answer
Hi David:

Thanks for your question.

From the appearance of your photo, I'd say you likely have a modern day replica. U.S. dollars were first struck in 1974. There are many counterfeits of this year, 1799. See: http://home.comcast.net/~reidgold/draped_busts/page_7.html

The key, of course, is weight, thickness, and diameter of your coin, but it looks too new to be authentic.  As a copy, if struck in silver, it would likely be worth approximately $35 to $40 to an interested collector. It is well known as being counterfeited in the numismatic community. There are a lot of famous silver coins in the world.

How to tell if it is real: A legitimate 1799 Silver Dollar is 39 mm to 40 mm in Diameter. The composition is .8924 Silver and .1076 Copper. The Weight: 26.96 grams. The edge will be lettered and say: "HUNDRED CENTS ONE DOLLAR OR UNIT". A total of 423,515 specimens are known to have been struck.  It would be a good guess that over the years many more have been "created" via the inescapable, unscrupulous con artists seeking prey.

For added information, see:
http://www.ehow.com/how_6616493_value-1799-silver-dollar.html

These "copies" show up on eBay from time to time. You may want to check out the US coins and currency category under Replicas to see if your piece is listed and what it is going for.

Please remember to go to the experts site to rate this answer. Check the nomination box on the rating page below any comments you may have.

Thank You and Good Luck in your collecting.
    Questioner's Rating
    Rating(1-10)Knowledgeability = 10Clarity of Response = 10Politeness = 10
    CommentThank you very much with the info about my coin


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Ronald Fern

Expertise

I can answer most all questions relating to US coins, tokens, and currency. I'm not strong on world coins or ancients. Primary field of expertise is errors and varieties. Over 55 years experience in coin collecting. Part time dealer since 1976. Employed by McDonnell Douglas/Boeing for over 34 years as an Industrial Engineer/Technical Specialist before retiring in 2002.

Experience

Worked weekends for "Lonesome" John in the late 1960's to mid 1970's processing error coins, packaging, and preparing orders. Worked with John Devine and Fred Weinberg on several California Error A Rama's in the early 1970's. Served as display judge at annual Error-A-Rama coin shows. Opened and operated mail order coin business DBA "CAL ERRORS" in 1976. Contributer to Alan Herbert's "Official Price Guide To Mint Errors" and Fivaz/Stanton "Cherrypickers' Guide". Worked Saturdays at Huntington Beach Coin Exchange 1980-1999. Had table and sold coins at a number of coin and gun shows in So CA, AZ and NV. Sell coins, tokens and currency currently at my space in the Pomona Antique Center. Past "Errorscope" Editor. Presently CONECA Examiner.

Organizations
ANA, CONECA, CWTS, NLG

Publications
Errorscope, Numismatic News, Civil War Token Journal, Error and Variety News

Education/Credentials
AA Degree LBCC pre Engineering, 1964 BS Degree CSULB Ind Technology, 1968

Awards and Honors
1st Place EAR Trophy for Civil War Token Errors, NLG Author of Year Award for best monthly coin column "Error News and Views" in small Numismatic paper, owned and published by Ray Anthony.

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