In China now, are these Morgans silver?

ProofCollection · June 25, 2008 7:45PM

So I'm in China now at the Yangtze river and all of the vendors have Morgan and trade dollars. The morgans are all dated 1891-O, nothing rare in vf/xf condition. They are going for about $3-4 each. They are not attracted to a magnet. I cannot tell if they are fake but I suspect they are. Is anyone familiar with these? Anyone know what they are made of? Would love to pick up lots of junk silver at this price but I kno it's probably too good to be true.

Sorry no pics, I am on a mobile device.

Placid · June 25, 2008 7:50PM

measure and weigh it. look for a seam. do the ring test.
Odds are they are fake.
Why would a merchant sell almost a ounce of silver for $4?

RWB · June 25, 2008 8:55PM

If multiple vendors have the same thing for sale at about the same price, what do you think? Silver at 1/4 the market price? Chinese merchants will fleece you in a second.

TomB · June 25, 2008 9:58PM

Common sense, anyone?

SaorAlba · June 25, 2008 10:16PM

When I was in Nanchang and Guangzhou I never saw any that appeared to be silver. They seem to be zinc, copper, perhaps some lead etc. And while I could talk them down on prices of authentic coins, they were never flexible with fakes.

ProofCollection · June 25, 2008 10:23PM

I'm not exactly sure how up-to-date on silver prices they are... The prices are definitely flexiible, but theb these aren't key dates either. Ill post pics when I retur to US.

ricko · June 25, 2008 11:17PM

It surprises me you even ask... Cheers, RickO

TwoSides2aCoin · June 25, 2008 11:32PM

Who was the comedian who asked :

How would you like to be a "one in a million" kind of guy in China where there are a billion people and have a thousand other guys just like you ?

BobaFett72 · June 25, 2008 11:35PM

i would pick some up for fun

great gag gifts

TwoSides2aCoin · June 25, 2008 11:39PM

I'd trust the rice.

CaptHenway · June 26, 2008 12:15AM

<< <i>So I'm in China now at the Yangtze river and all of the vendors have Morgan and trade dollars. The morgans are all dated 1891-O, nothing rare in vf/xf condition. They are going for about $3-4 each. They are not attracted to a magnet. I cannot tell if they are fake but I suspect they are. Is anyone familiar with these? Anyone know what they are made of? Would love to pick up lots of junk silver at this price but I kno it's probably too good to be true.

Sorry no pics, I am on a mobile device. >>

You are kidding, aren't you?
Do you still believe in Santa Claus?

CalGold · June 26, 2008 1:01AM

<< <i>I'm not exactly sure how up-to-date on silver prices they are >>

Just because these people don’t live in New York or LA or London does not mean that they are ignorant rubes. Cell phones, TV, and computers make current market information available to everyone anywhere.

CG

cmerlo1 · June 26, 2008 1:05AM

IMHO, a good rule:

US coin in China = fake, unless you have knowledge and equipment to determine otherwise.

Edited for political correctness...

adamlaneus · June 26, 2008 2:03AM

I find it sad that you are going to be one of the folks transporting fake coins into the US.

How long before those coins are destroyed? How many people will be fooled by the coins you are bringing to the US mainland?

Don't contribute to this problem. Toss them. Donate them to some homeless chinese person.

Longacre · June 26, 2008 2:06AM

Hey, I will be there in early July. I will be in Beijing, Baotou, Tianjin, Luzhou, and Shanghai. Maybe I will pick up a Morgan and Peace Dollar from each region, and call it a variety set.

RWB · June 26, 2008 2:11AM

Longacre - If you call ahead, I bet they'll put your portrait on the "coins."

GrumpyEd · June 26, 2008 2:41AM

Buying them just helps keep the fake makers going.

I'd pass on it.

Shamika · June 26, 2008 3:05AM

<< <i>They are not attracted to a magnet. >>

Magnets will only attract metals and alloys that are magnetic. Copper, zinc, aluminum, bronze, brass, etc will never be picked up by a magnet.

TwoSides2aCoin · June 26, 2008 3:12AM

<< <i>Longacre - If you call ahead, I bet they'll put your portrait on the "coins." >>

RedTiger · June 26, 2008 3:19AM

If "all" the vendors have them, odds of them being silver are zero. They likely cost about 15 to 25 cents U. S. to produce. Buy them if you like them as souvenirs, but silver, no chance, not when everyone is selling them for what would be 1/4 melt value.

Oldtrader3 · June 26, 2008 3:43AM

The Chinese have brewed up some alloy mix that passes for silver. It may be a German Silver type alloy and there may be some small amount of silver (or lead) added to make it look genuine. Then again maybe it is reclaimed lead/silver solder with some tin added. I have only seen pictures and have read that they have developed some tricked out alloy that looks much like silver. The alloy can't be worth much more than $1 U.S. per ounce.

ProofCollection · June 27, 2008 7:23PM

Is there anyone interested in doing a full analysis of one of these and posting it on here when they are done? If so, PM me and I'll send one to you when I get back.

Barry · June 27, 2008 8:34PM

Just think how many Americans going to the Olympics will be coming home with "rare American coins." It will probably keep the Ebay police very busy for a while.

djf1326invest · June 28, 2008 4:52PM

After living in China for several years (both in the large city and the country town), I can tell you that you are probably looking at a fake coin. The Chinese can produce fakes by the 100's in a very short time. I have seen (and bought a few) fakes of all kinds of denominations (including Chinese Pandas). The best way thing to do, while you are in China is to buy ONLY from a reputable dealer and only ones that are graded. Most good dealers will have them graded. If you do buy some, send them to be graded. Be prepared to finds fakes in your lot. Good luck.

7Jaguars · June 28, 2008 10:57PM

Uhh, Chinese have always had a good business sense and from long before this country was even "discovered" - I would bet they know the up to the minute silver and gold price before we do.

In China now, are these Morgans silver?

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