I'm finally going to get a chance to see one of the Chinese fake silver dollars in person!

Bochiman · November 26, 2005 1:19PM

A friend of mine just got back from 2 weeks in China (Beijing/Hong Kong amongst other places).
He just called and said "since I know you like coins, and I saw some old silver (US) dollars in this guys' coin box in the night market, I bought you 3 for $12. They look really old and are like 1848 and stuff".

Heh....he didn't believe me when I told him, without seeing them, that they were fake. He thought, because they look old, that they were real. He bargained the guy down from $40 to $12 for all 3. Imagine if you could get a real US silver dollar for that price from the "old days"

I've wanted to see these in person for awhile and will get my chance when I see him later this week.

mrearlygold · November 26, 2005 1:25PM

Ahhhh, Asia.

Bochiman · November 26, 2005 1:37PM

I looked, half-heartedly since I was with more people and busy, when I was in Taiwan 2 weeks ago, but didn't find anything.
I did find, in their Museum of Archeology though, a "treasure chest" replica and it had plastic replicas of coin hoards.......with Sacagawea dollars

mrearlygold · November 26, 2005 1:41PM

When I lived in Vnam I advertised in the english language newspaper for 6 months, "buying coin collections " ( not legal by the way)( hey whattaya gonna do, shoot me? ). I had a meeting one day with a fellow who had a HUGE antique ( reproductions although they weren't being sold as such) shop. He showed me boxes and boxes of coins and currency too.

All fake.

Tom

Dismeguy · November 26, 2005 1:47PM

Your friend still paid too much... the going rate for a knowledgeable westerner is between 8-10 RMB each. That is $1.00-$1.25 each. In Shanghai, you can buy them by the suitcase if you want. Just go down to YuYuan Gardens markets.

Bochiman · November 26, 2005 2:00PM

<< <i>Your friend still paid too much... the going rate for a knowledgeable westerner is between 8-10 RMB each. That is $1.00-$1.25 each. In Shanghai, you can buy them by the suitcase if you want. Just go down to YuYuan Gardens markets. >>

Heh....I'm going to show him this post then

He is native chinese but grew up here and thinks of himself as a shrewd negotiator, so I will make him cry when he sees this

But, since he was getting them for me, and thought they were real, I still appreciate what he tried. And, if I tried to get one over here, just to look at and study so I can spot them, it would cost me at least $12US for one.

Bochiman · November 27, 2005 3:16PM

Update.....

Got them from my friend tonight....

1848 - Liberty Seated
1896 - Morgan
1906 - SAE design

Quite obviously fakes on the 1848 and 1906 (duh!) but the morgan was close. I haven't had a chance to look super close, and to just look quickly, it would fool people, but I think it is fake as well....will take a closer look (and listen to the "ring") later.

Heh....still cool to have to see.

Elcontador · November 27, 2005 4:04PM

I actually knowingly bought a very well done fake 1875 CC Trade $ when I was in Vietnam. Many dealers I showed it to here were fooled by it. Most of the bad fakes are easy to spot, and for some reason, were all 1875 S Trade $s.

Longacre · November 27, 2005 10:59PM

Just watch out. I got stopped by US Customs on my trip back from Shanghai and again on my trip back from Bangkok. I wasn't carrying anything, though.

I'm finally going to get a chance to see one of the Chinese fake silver dollars in person!

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