Enlarged $20 Lib.

GOLDSAINT

As I put a few things together to be sent in to be slabbed one of the coins I am sending is a 1884 S gold $20 Lib. This coin is about one third thicker and 1MM wider than the regular $20 lib. It has a very flat rim like you might see on a proof but my Red book lists no proofs with S mint marks for that date. O.K. you coin detectives does anyone know anything about that?

darktone

My first thought is that it's a fake but it looks good in the picture. Have you weighed it? mike

GOLDSAINT

Thanks Mike,
I finally found my gram scale and weighed two $20's, they both weigh the same. I dont know how that is possible?
I discovered this size difference when I tried to put this coin in a regualr $20 holder and it would not fit.
I put it, carefully, on top of another $20 it was larger. It also appears thicker?
Very strange, any more ideas?

LanLord

If it is larger, and thicker and weighs the same, it would seem to me that the purity of gold is lower than what it should be for a US gold coin.

Conder101

I agree with Lanlord. If it is a counterfeit that skimps on the gold by lowering the fineness it would weigh less so in order to compensate they increase the size slightly. If you see some of the counterfeit detectors from back the you see the have recesses for the coin to fit into to check diameter and a slot across that recess that the coin has to be able to fit into to check the thickness, and finally it has to balance the counterweight to have the right weight. If a coin couldn't pass all three tests it was condemned as fake. Sounds like this one wouldn't pass.

meos1

Sounds like that coin has been taking some of those pills they spam everyone about that make you larger and thicker!