French Indo-China Question for Experts

foundinrolls

Hi All,

I don't often have a "darkside" question but I came across a coin that I have some questions about. I don't want to know if it has been cleaned. The lines that look like cleaning are raised on the coin and appear to be die polish marks. Also there are clash marks on the reverse indicating it was die struck.

The questions are:

Have these things been counterfeited?

Does this look to experts to be the way these coins are supposed to look?

I have my doubts as the .680 POIDS should be .835 POIDS on a coin of this date.

Are there known MULES for these?

Do these things really get close to the $300.00 mark (if Unc and legit) when sold as indicated by the Standard Catalog of World Coins, 26th Edition (1999)

Thanks for any help on this.

Blackhawk

I know that the French Indochina coins have been copied and used for decorations on the dresses on the Hmong and other groups native to the area. Most of the copies that I've seen have a hole so they can be sewed to fabric.

TwoKopeiki

These are known to be counterfeit. What's the weight of yours (to the closest 1/100's of a gram, if your scale allows that)?

foundinrolls

I'll have to weigh it when i get the opportunity.

I'll let you know...

Thanks,
Bill

PrinceIto

A grading tip: Many of these coins were struck "nose less" and yes, there are quite a few fakes floating around.

laurentyvan

I'd love to see your coin re-imaged. There's pretty much no way to tell anything about your coin with the current image.

Try a normal focus about 4 to 6 inches away, do not over saturate or over contrast the image, and make sure your camera's white balance is on.

foundinrolls

I'm working on new images.

This one has got to be one of the toughest images I've tried to get. The thing is so white, it's tough to get the details and not have everything just get "whited out".

I must have taken 300 shots of this thing today:-)

I'll be back!!

Thanks,
Bill

Hyperion

those are heavily counterfeited, I have one example from a trusted dealer whos weight is spot on but still looks a bit odd to me...I wouldn't have paid much for it otherwise with the 'look'...
Im curious about the weight and a different image as well.

for an authentic unc, Id Love to see a good image. it's a great design...