Fake Trade Dollar and My New Camera

harasha

Before I found out how ubiquitous were counterfeit trade dollars, I purchased a large lot, mostly to give out to kids. I kept the best looking for myself, selfish batard that I am. Anyway, I purchased a Canon XTi this past weekend (My tax refund) and I also discovered how to create a link to flickr. Soooo, I would like to solicit the membership's comments, especially how this coin appears to be so obviously fake.

TwoKopeiki

You've captured the color beautifully!

drjules

Yeah great pic

I think the detail of the head compared to the lack of detail in the cloak and leg gives it away, although the date looks funky too.

On the subject though I wonder why these fakes are produced in such numbers, its not as though there is a great demand for these coins and they don't command the highest of prices. Isn't the cost of producing the counterfeit outweighed by the available profit?

Dr J

zeebob

Very very nice photos!

I apologize for being ignorant, but what makes this coin fake?

I have one (well, a 1901) up for auction right now on eBay. Linky

Do you (or any of you) think this is fake? If so, I'll pull the auction.

Thanks,

Bob
PS: I wish my photos looked as good as yours!

ormandh

Nice photo! I have the xti also. Is this the macro lense that came with it? What is your light source? -Dan

zeebob

Sorry, you don't have to look at the auction on eBay, I can just post the photos here. Let me know if the coins appear fake. I don't have any bidders yet so I can pull the auctions without hurting anyone's feelings if you guys think the coin isn't authentic.

Also, Harasha, what sort of light did you use when you took your photos? Your colors turned out fantastic. I used sunlight, and ended up with the washed out colors seen here.

harasha

What appears to me to compromise the authenticity of the coin is the bubbly surface.
Note at the 9:00 position some small dots that have nothing to do with the Arabic script.
Of course, I am not expert, but those things make me suspicious.

Now, as for the lighting. My first attempt, using a flash (which I have not yet figured out how to turn off in macro mode) and Ott lamp in a room lit by early evening light created a washed out appearance. I then tried with the flash alone and was surprised by the accuracy of the toning. My only concern is what appears to be a slight half moon shadow on both photos. I need to figure that one out, though I suspect that it might be cast by the flash itself on a subject close to the lens.

The lens on the camera is the kit lens that came with it; 18-55mm f/3.5 - 5.6/

ormandh

The only way you can keep the flash from going off, that I know of, is to put a flash on the hotshoe. -Dan

farthing

The dentiles also look very funky on the obverse at 5:30 to about 7:00