Expert: Neil S Berman - 6/19/2007

Question
QUESTION: I have six silver dollars, that I think are Mexican or Chinese counterfeits. They were only $25, total, so suspect comes to mind. Haven't checked the silver content yet. Can you help?

1)1795 flowing hair Liberty in too good condition with milling instead of writing around the rim.
2)1799 Liberty in too good condition with milling instead of lettering, and unusual 7 in date, with no vertical slash at beginning of the 7.
3)1816 walking Liberty with milling, in too good condition, with "1 OZ FINE SILVER-ONE DOLLAR" on reverse.
4)1876 Trade Dollar with milling, in too good condition.
5)1878 Liberty with milling in too good condition.
6)1922 Liberty great shape and detail, with milling.

ANSWER: Fake, what would you like to know please?

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

QUESTION: Are these produced as collector coin counterfeits, or just counterfeit money? They are used, but that can be faked too, I guess. They've done a great job of aging them if they are.

I'll check to see if there's any silver in them at all.

Answer
They are made to fool tourists and greedy novice coin collectors on eBay and the like. I doubt if there is any, or much silver in the coins. They are, by the way, illegal to sell. What was the tip off? Was it that the Flowing Hair Dollar is worth $1000 if it were real.