No I'm actually talking about the Trade dollars that are heavily counterfeited. Morgan and Peace dollars are the same as to specifications. Trade dollars were heavier and not meant so much for domestic circulation, more to compete with other silver coins in the Orient. A real trade dollar is worth $100 and up in lower grades while a common Morgan/ Peace dollar is more like $22 at current silver prices.
There is little reason to counterfeit a common 1923/1924 dollar in base metal unless trying to pass it as real money ( in the 20's). Now you can melt a real one and try to make it into a key date like 1928 and have it pass the obvious first tests....
fakes are getting very good and of proper metal, etc. Most ebay trade dollars are fakes. Fake Peace dollars aren't very common.....I mean the fakes that you'd pass as money. I've seen plenty of lead cast morgan dollars from the 1880's. They aren't good fakes. A dollar was a nice chunk of change in 1885, perhaps half a days' pay for a laborer ?
They are supposed to be marked with the word copy or replica stamped on fakes since 1971 or so ( Hobby protection act or something like that) the Chinese didn't get that memo !
They not only counterfeit the coins, they fill counterfeit a collector coin like an 1877 cent ( $1,000 and up) and put it into a counterfeit slab from PCGS, NGC, etc. all excellent quality.
Here's a Chinaman that sells good fakes....
http://www.jinghuashei.com/
You could sell this stuff on ebay or at flea markets easily....if you have no morals.
http://www.jinghuashei.com/
You could sell this stuff on ebay or at flea markets easily....if you have no morals.
Not at all Kidman.....but you are up against a tough opponent when you start talking US Coins with Doug.
Here's some more on fake trade dollars....
http://www.cointalk.com/t63695/
the fakes of everything are getting to be of FANTASTIC quality !
Don't mess with collector coins unless you know what you're doing. Bullion is fine for a novice....very easy to check weights ( you can't fake Gold's weight) and just deal with reputable places. I advise staying away from real rare coins for the novice, at least high dollar ones.
