Chinese Counterfeits confiscated at O'Hare in Chicago

tmot99

Sorry if this was already posted, but I didn't see it before. On the news, they showed a roll of trade dollars wrapped in brown paper. They were arriving last week to be delivered in Illinois. Wonder if someone had plans to sell them at Central States?

April 21, 2011 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- Chicago Customs and Border Protection intercepted a shipment of counterfeit coins from China last week.

After noticing an irregularity in the X-ray of a heavy package being sent to an Illinois residence, customs officials say they discovered 361 coins that appeared to be U.S. Trade Dollar coins with dates between 1873 and 1878. Analysis of the coins revealed that they were made of brass with a thin silver-plated coating.

According to a news release from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the original U.S. Trade Dollar coin was minted from 1873 to 1878. Customs officials say some of these coins can be sold for as much as $2,000.

According to officials, the recipient of the shipment was intending to sell the fake coins online.

"Legitimate traders are being duped into buying these coins believing they are genuine," said David Murphy, CBP Director of Field Operations in Chicago. "We strongly recommend buyers or any consumers to be aware and use caution when making these types of purchases on the Internet."

Customs officers screen international mail looking for any type of contraband, counterfeit or prohibited items being shipped to the United States.

(Copyright ©2011 WLS-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)

Direct Link to the Article

DennisH

String up the guy!

garrynot

Way to go, Customs!

keyman64

BigE

If you searched e-Bay under completed listings for Trade dollars, would it show auctions that were cancelled by the seller? Bet if the seller thinks the feds are onto him, this would be the first thing he would do-------------------------BigE

dragon

Too bad they didn't publish the name of who they were going to.

Teva

Even a blind dog gets a bone now and than.

HTubbs

CaptHenway

Good on them!

Coinsponge

I am sure the guy was going to stamp "copy" on them as soon as he got home.

Bayard1908

I suspect this is a big enough quantity for the U.S. Attorney to be interested.

AnkurJ

Wow, glad they caught it!

Rampage

I agree, good job.

keets

Comin' into Los Angelees
Bringin' in a couple a ki's
Don't touch my bags if you please
Mr Customs man!!

messydesk

<< <i>Too bad they didn't publish the name of who they were going to. >>


I'm sure they soon will.

BXBOY143

<< <i>If you searched e-Bay under completed listings for Trade dollars, would it show auctions that were cancelled by the seller? Bet if the seller thinks the feds are onto him, this would be the first thing he would do-------------------------BigE >>




I did that just to see what would come up and quite alot of sellers ended their auctions early.......

Goldbully

<< <i>
Comin' into Los Angelees
Bringin' in a couple a ki's
Don't touch my bags if you please
Mr Customs man!!
>>



Sing Along!

keets

far out!!! man, i almost had a flashback!!

Coinsponge

I wonder if they were in "PCGS" holders?

coindeuce

I wonder what fraction of 1 percent that the 361 pieces represents of all Chinese counterfeits that have made it here unchallenged. Good job U.S. Customs?

ricko

Tip of the iceberg I would say.... just like drugs, they only stop a small percentage coming in..... the rest hits the market. Caveat Emptor. Cheers, RickO

crypto79

I bet TDN will be super happy to hear some of his coins might be worth as much as $2,000!!!!!!!!

pmac

<< <i>I bet TDN will be super happy to hear some of his coins might be worth as much as $2,000!!!!!!!! >>


Ya, some of his low end coins.
When I first read the thread title, I thought these might be part of the 86,000 Morgans to be graded by our host.

ebaybuyer

"According to officials, the recipient of the shipment was intending to sell the fake coins online" <<<< sounds like speculation, i doubt that anyone said, "yeah we are going to sell them online as genuine" people buy those fakes for many reasons, im not defending anyone, i just seems to me that in some obscure place in this country there is something scribbled down about the right of being considered Innocent until
proven guilty. not the other way around

JamesMurray

True and fair enough , i know people who have an example of the Chinese fakes , i myself have a rare shield nickel that would pass any inspection but it's fake.Reason being i sink a good bit of money into my nickel collection and i have to know what to look out for.That's my excuse , perhaps you might favour us with an opinion on what purpose there is to buying 361 fakes ?

shorecoll

Will they actually prosecute the guy who ordered them?...he hasn't done anything wrong until he sells them...unless this is his 22nd shipment in the last 6 months.

JamesMurray

If i recall correctly the law when i checked , its a federal offence to knowingly import counterfeits unless they are clearly marked as such.

COALPORTER

Well, one coin IS stamped "replica", so maybe the bad guys could just say it was poor quality control and oversite at the factory - hey, it is China afterall !

mkman123

hope the person who was going to sell them online gets in big trouble!! We need to scrutinize shipments from China more closely! Who knows how many thousands of fake chinese made coins have gotten through.

WTCG

<< <i>hope the person who was going to sell them online gets in big trouble!! We need to scrutinize shipments from China more closely! Who knows how many thousands of fake chinese made coins have gotten through. >>



Fake coins are a nuisance but if there is going to be scrutiny over shipments and imports from foreign countries then coins are not a priority.