Can Anyone Tell if this is Authentic

tmcsr69

I have this Hong Kong dollar that I know nothing about. I collect US coins and have this one up for sale. I just wondered if anyone could tell from these pictures if this coin was authentic or not. Thanks!

ASUtodd

Can't tell if it is real or not but it sure looks cleaned from the obverse pic. Also what is the "toning" on the reverse at the 12 oclock? It almost looks like the silver is coming off.
Todd

tmcsr69

With the coin in hand, the toning doesn't show up-only in the picture. Under magnification, there is no where that any flaking of any sort is occuring.

MrEureka

It appears to be a cast copy. The loss of detail on the obverse is inconsistent with the amount of wear, or with a weak strike. Additionally, the craters on the central devices of the obverse are signs of a poor cast.

farthing

The poorly formed denticles on the obverse are another pointer that the coin is a copy.

Dentuck

A rash of counterfeit 1866 and 1867 Hong Kong dollars came out of China about five years ago.

tmcsr69

Thanks for the help/input. I thought China specialized in US Coins. I guess they are equal opportunity counterfeiters.

BBQnBLUES

Hey Tom;

I wish your Hong Kong $ was the real deal... I'm hoping to buy one this Spring..

To help you here's 2 photos from Stacks auction last Feb.. The coin sold for $644. which was a sweet deal...

Doogy

<< <i>Thanks for the help/input. I thought China specialized in US Coins. I guess they are equal opportunity counterfeiters. >>



The Chinese counterfeiters were copying their own and British coinage long before US coinage; in fact, long before the US was even a country.

tmcsr69

If anyone is interested in the coin they can have it for the price of postage. Otherwise I will just pitch it as I do not like having this sort of coin around the house. Might cause some confusion with my heirs someday in the future.

satootoko

First thing I noticed was the overall casting appearance.

farthing

If it isn't claimed yet I would be interested in it.

Two occasional posters here who are dealers might want it to add to their counterfeit collection. They use them as educational tools. You might want to try to contact aethelred or danglen to see if they would be interested. I sent fakes I "won" on ebay to both of them.

tmcsr69

Hasn't been claimed. PM your address and I will get it on it's way.

harasha

I picked up this somewhat banged up example back in 2002.

lordmarcovan

Phony baloney. Sorry.

(Edit: my comment was aimed at the coin in the original post.)

lordmarcovan

OK, let's not get too hasty, here.

While the soft appearance of tmcsr69's coin in the original post caused me to have a knee-jerk reaction and pronounce it "phony baloney", since it resembles a cast counterfeit, I would have said the same thing about harasha's piece, which apparently comes from Ponterio, a reputable source. If harasha's is genuine, then perhaps tmcsr69's is, as well?

I don't know. I still say the original coin in this thread looks like a fake to me- but I am automatically suspicious of any crown-sized silver with a cast appearance, particularly if it is from places like China, Hong Kong, etc.

It just looks like a Chinese-produced fake. And it could very well be just that. But maybe we shouldn't be so quick to condemn it, after all. I'd be interested to hear from more folks who might know more about this issue. My personal experience with Hong Kong dollars is admittedly zero.

Of the three coins posted so far, I'd have labeled tmcsr69's a fake, BBQnBLUES' coin probably real, and harasha's coin uncertain, leaning towards fake. But if harasha's came from a supposedly unimpeachable source and is real, I have to question my previous instincts.