First post and a plea for help!

Vermonter

Hello everyone!

I'm new here and finally decided to stop lurking. It sure seems like this is an active forum and I'm amazed how much some of you know.

I've been offered a barter... and on his end he's got three pretty cool coins, I hope. When I checked eBay to see what they were going for I saw a lot of fakes so I hope someone here can help. The coins are a 1846 Dollar, a 1876 S Dollar, and a 1741 Spanish Milled Dollar. What's the best way to determine if the coins are genuine? Weight? Is it safe to assume if they're filled with chocolate that I'm getting burned?

Thanks!

BAJJERFAN

VELKOMMEN aboard.

nesvt

Can't help you with your question, but it's nice to see another Vermonter!

coindeuce

You didn't give a hint as to what your end of the barter is, but given the dates and type offered to you in trade, I would be very skeptical. A high quality triple beam balance scale with accuracy to tenths of a gram would be helpful. Most counterfeits are under weight, so it should be rather simple to make that determination quickly with the U.S. type. As for the Spanish milled dollar, I would expect an opinion from an impartial third party with experience in buying and selling this issue.

rmoss

Don't collect dollars and not up on them but welcome.

RKKay

If you can't post pix or take them to a show, texture and color are prime factors. Also, weight could possibly be a tip off. Some also have snake bites on the edge.

construct

On the U.S. Type, I like to look at the edges, rims, and denticles. That tells me a lot. The fakes don't sound right either when you ring them on a table or counter.

granddad

Don't do anything until you get more opinions. Go to a show, visit several shops, or post pics here. The latter is your best option.

Have a Great Day!
Louis

Vermonter

Boy... I really didn't expect such a warm welcome or so many responses so quick, thanks everyone!

Snake bites? Denticles? I've got a lot to learn.

I found what they should weigh on coinfacts.com but how much different would a fake be? a tenth of a gram or a few grams? I'll have to get a jewlers scale or something I think.

Coinosaurus

Best bet for a quick opinion is to visit the local coin dealer.

A lot of counterfeits just dont look "right". Can't describe it except to say that if you've looked at thousands of the same kind of coin, the bad ones start sticking out.

clutsy

look at the eye of the eagle...if it's filled it's fake..

Bear

This kind of merchandise requires verification

of a top tier, third party grader like PCGS.

RKKay

<< <i>Boy... I really didn't expect such a warm welcome or so many responses so quick, thanks everyone!

Snake bites? Denticles? I've got a lot to learn.

I found what they should weigh on coinfacts.com but how much different would a fake be? a tenth of a gram or a few grams? I'll have to get a jewlers scale or something I think. >>



Snake Bites: holes through which metal was injected


Denticles are on the obverse and reverse of some coins at the edge


The weight difference depends, but some bad fakes are way off.

A short word on fake patterns

Shamika

Wish you had an image you could share.

Welcome to the Forum!

granddad

Spoof?



Have a Great Day!
Louis

michael

you will wind up with the short end of the stick and then some

michael

pass

michael

The coins are a 1846 Dollar, a 1876 S Dollar, and a 1741 Spanish Milled Dollar.

you all just got punked

including me

xphobe

Edit: uh, never mind. Michael's right, I'm an idiot.

Put them in water. Chocolate has a lot of oil in it so they should float.

mojoman

Welcome to the FORUM

everyone has summed it up for you , pictures might help ,but weight is a key factor on the trade dollars,

BlindedByEgo

No, you're not getting burned... You're getting a really tasty treat. It all depends on what he wants in return. If it's your virginity, pass.

mgoodm3

Welome™

rec78

Hello, Please be aware that the coins you mentioned have been heavily counterfieted for many years. I suggest you post photos here for help or go to a dealer that you know is honest or even send them in to a grading service for authentication (ANACS, PCGS or NGC). The weight MAY tell and should be close to the official weight-tolerences were very close and dont differenciate an appreciable amount even in worn coins.

fcloud

welcome to the boards

Conder101

You say you have he proper weight figures from coinfacts for the 1846 dollar and the 1876-S Trade dollar. The allowed deviation from that weight is +/- .097 grams. The 8 Reales piece tolerance would probably be about the same. Even a well worn coins usually won't be much more than that because a loss of weight of .13 grams would be enough to condemn the coin as being outside the allowed weight for a current coin and it would have been returned to the treasury for recoining. Most of the counterfeit seated and trade dollars are usually a couple of grams light. Again the 8 reales would probably be the same.

BlindedByEgo

OP: "I've been offered a barter... and on his end he's got three pretty cool coins, I hope. When I checked eBay to see what they were going for I saw a lot of fakes so I hope someone here can help. The coins are a 1846 Dollar, a 1876 S Dollar, and a 1741 Spanish Milled Dollar. What's the best way to determine if the coins are genuine? Weight?
Is it safe to assume if they're filled with chocolate that I'm getting burned?"



<< <i>You say you have he proper weight figures from coinfacts for the 1846 dollar and the 1876-S Trade dollar. The allowed deviation from that weight is +/- .097 grams. The 8 Reales piece tolerance would probably be about the same. Even a well worn coins usually won't be much more than that because a loss of weight of .13 grams would be enough to condemn the coin as being outside the allowed weight for a current coin and it would have been returned to the treasury for recoining. Most of the counterfeit seated and trade dollars are usually a couple of grams light. Again the 8 reales would probably be the same. >>



Yeah... But isn't the specific gravity for chocolate different?