Trade Dollar Replicas
mheffner2
Posts: 728 ✭
So I'm scanning EBay just now. Replica after replica after copy after "I'm not a certified dealer so I'm selling this as a copy because I don't know better"! DO i need a PCGS pro to hold my hand and help me find a freaking Trade Dollar! Even the auction listings that say it's real look fake! So - anyone know of a good book on the Trade Dollar? I'll read a library before I spend one modern oil stained penny on a raw replica! 
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Comments
Welcome. I'll be gentle. Okay, until you know what to look for, just buy Trade Dollars that are certified off of eBay. Most are fakes (some stated as such and others not). TDN, EVP, myself and a pile of others on the forum know what to look for as you find a Trade Dollar but that takes time and even then, some of the fakes that I've seen are very good (certainly better than you would be able to discriminate off a bad ebay picture). Here's quick list of what you should look for:
- Is the T$ in a slab already (PCGS, NGC, ANACS, etc.) can make it a lot more pain free
- Is the date/mm fit the known Type I/II obverse and reverse profiles (PM me if you need an explanation on this)
- Does the seller live in some far away place or have the feedback that gives you a queazy feeling
- Does the coin have that look (ie I've seen the same die issue on multiple date/mm coins)
- Is it an illegal date/mm combination (geez, I wish I could have bought that 1879-S Trade Dollar)
As far as books go...the best book on the series so far is Bowers two volume tome on Silver Dollars (its a huge book set but the best on the series), second best is probably Breen's Encyclopedia.
As mentioned, I can send you some info on legal and non-legal combos if you need them, just PM me. Anyone is welcome.
keoj