Need counterfeit gold diagnostics help.

jdimmick · September 22, 2004 10:07AM

A group of One dollar gold coins came in today. After looking at tthem closer some appear to be counterfiet. can anyone help me with identification?

the dates are as follows:

1874 and 1889 appear to have those two small lumps near the O in Of,

the other dates

1849 Looks nice and crisp
1883
(2) 1854 Ty II's

thanks

jim

ScarsdaleCoin · September 22, 2004 11:37AM

please visit my web site...go to current inventory....see section under products for coin dealers....we sell a great product called a FISCH detector....

USMC_6115 · September 22, 2004 3:11PM

How do they work?

Conder101 · September 23, 2004 3:41AM

I think his FISCH detector will only work if the counterfeiter shorted the gold fineness or weight. Most of the Lebanon (and other) fakes from the 1940's and later are almost always up to mint standard for wight and fineness. (in some cases even greater than mint standard.)

MrEureka · September 23, 2004 4:11AM

Images, please.

JadeRareCoin · September 23, 2004 6:22AM

Jim,

Here are some things to look for on the 1874:

GENUINE
1) should have a diameter of .591
2) 1874 gold dollars were struck from worn, deteriorated dies, so 1874 dollars usually don't show much luster. Also, the reverse die will show a lot of wear (coin will have weak details).
3) look at the dentils; they should be evenly spaced and uniform.

COUNTERFEIT
1) there are multiple known counterfeits for 1874, but one is oversized in diameter at .594. Some counterfeits are the correct diameter.
2) beware of 1874 dollars that have too much luster (too good to be true).
3) the counterfeit will have sharper details than the genuine 1874.
4) one known counterfeit has a small pit to the right of "R" in DOLLAR and 2 small pits to the right of "4" in the date.
5) I like to look at the 2 flowers at the top of the reverse on gold dollars. Compare them to a genuine coin, as the counterfeits are usually different.
6) I know it's easy to say, but I like to look at the "fabric" of each coin. We just had a counterfeit $5 Lib come in last week that was mixed with about 20 other genuine coins. It just stood out like a sore thumb (luster was wrong).

NOTE: diagnostics used in my post are from Lonesome John's book on counterfeit gold.

Need counterfeit gold diagnostics help.

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