Going to China (Beijing) this week, what US coins do you think I will find?

Bochiman · October 5, 2008 3:19PM

Not saying they will be authentic, but, if I can get out at night, ditch the work colleagues and dinner plans, and hit some night markets, what do you think I will find?
I've never been there before and not sure where they have stuff or how to ask for it to see.

I would NOT consider myself an expert in many older series so I will consider everything as counterfeit and look at it from that perspective. Won't stop me from looking though.
Maybe I will find some around the Great Wall when we go there on Saturday...too bad I can't metal detect the area

BXBOY143 · October 5, 2008 3:23PM

IMHO- YOU'LL FIND SOMETHING THAT WILL BE SCARY SUCH AS A TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE FIND!!

ProofCollection · October 5, 2008 3:28PM

Youll see roadside "stores" with fake Peace and Morgan dollars.

FullStrike · October 5, 2008 3:34PM

No modern zinc plated pennies, but barrels of '09-S VDB's, 1914-D's, 1922-P's.

More 1913 Nickels and 1804 Dollars than you can imagine.

Also, if you find any custom coin shops, please get me a couple of them Cheerios Sacagaweas, please.

.......just kidding, I don't want a real Cheerios Sac, a phoney one would just be trash to me

WTCG · October 5, 2008 3:44PM

Based on personal experience, unless you're attending an organized coin show you probably shouldn't expect too much in terms of finding nice quality and authentic U.S. coins. Save your U.S. coin shopping for when you get back.

Metal detecting near the Great Wall would probably be an interesting experience, that is, if you get the opportunity to explore parts of the wall that are totally authentic and rarely explored by people. Most visitors are unaware that the Great Wall at Badaling (a 2 mile long or so stretch of the wall an hour north of Beijing and where the vast, vast majority of visitors visit the Great Wall) was actually rebuilt in the late 1970's.

GrumpyEd · October 5, 2008 3:47PM

Bochiman,

<< <i>so I will consider everything as counterfeit >>

With that in mind you're ready to go!!

Maybe you can find some examples of what to look for.

Have a good trip

lasvegasteddy · October 5, 2008 5:45PM

this could be an interesting thread if you include pictures when you get back

by all means stay safe and have a good trip

commoncents123 · October 5, 2008 5:52PM

keep an eye out for fake slabs...that's what I'm interested to find out

northcoin · October 5, 2008 6:11PM

If you get a chance to visit an antique shop you may stumble upon some of the old barter coins. They are often still intact like leaves on a tree. More likely you can find some old coins with holes in them.

SaorAlba · October 5, 2008 8:36PM

The crazy thing for me in China was not being able to talk the prices down on the fake stuff, but on the real Chinese money I could talk it down to half of the asking price. It was as though the fakes were supposed to have some imaginary value beyond being a fake.

holeinone1972 · October 5, 2008 8:39PM

If you call ahead they can have anything you wish. LOL

TwoSides2aCoin · October 5, 2008 8:40PM

The real test of your numismatic prowess will be finding a genuine U.S. Silver or Gold Classic coin, and obtaining it at the counterfeit price

CoinHusker · October 5, 2008 9:49PM

Hey Ron,

Maybe you'll find some fake Panda's from the US there?

Longacre · October 5, 2008 9:53PM

I've been there a few times, and the city is growing on me (the downtown area). The Silk Market has tons and tons of coins for your viewing and purchasing pleasure, all of which I am sure are probably counterfeit. There are US coins (lots of trade dollars, Morgans, and seated dollars). I think the Silk Market is located on Jianguomenwai Dajie, but if you ask at the hotel, they will set you up with a cab.

I also agree with WTCG-- go to the authentic part of the Great Wall, rather than the tourista part that was rebuilt recently. It is a few hours drive from Beijing, but well worth it.

pmac · October 5, 2008 10:05PM

I have two 1799 dollars that you might be interested in. I got them from my brother-in-law who was serving in Baghdad and got them in the market place there.

garsmith · October 5, 2008 10:49PM

Look for a 1964 Peace Dollar

mkman123 · October 5, 2008 11:38PM

You will find only counterfeit and maybe some lead coated ones so be careful and wash your hands after touching them

Oh yeah don't even eat any chocolate coins or anything. I wouldn't trust what toxins might be in it!

PS. I'm Chinese so I can be extra harsh on them

mrearlygold · October 6, 2008 12:21AM

Put the hunt for US coins on hold . You will be able to access truly GREAT food. Enjoy the food. Enjoy the experience of being in China. Have a ball.

Bochiman · October 6, 2008 1:29AM

Thanks everyone. Longacre, I will ask about the silk market.

<< <i>Put the hunt for US coins on hold . You will be able to access truly GREAT food. Enjoy the food. Enjoy the experience of being in China. Have a ball. >>

Tom...thanks. I didn't plan to specifically "hunt" for the US coins but wondered if I would see them there. I know I need to go to a market to get a few things to bring home to the family

As for the food....ummm....I don't eat much asian food at all, so I plan to take some candy bars, eat in American style restaurants as much as possible, and lose some weight

I do plan to try to experience China other than that.

Longacre · October 6, 2008 1:34AM

Which hotel are you staying at? I stayed at the Shangri-La Kerry Center and the Kempinski Luftansa. Both are nice, and there are lots of incredible restaurants in Beijing. You should sample the food, which is actually quite good (except for the cat

).

Trebor · October 6, 2008 1:35AM

Right-facing Morgan and Peace Dollars. Ancients dated complete with "BC". Smiling SBA's.

Good hunting!

messydesk · October 6, 2008 1:46AM

<< <i>As for the food....ummm....I don't eat much asian food at all... >>

I'm reminded of a segmenet NBC did during the Olympics. One of their idiot reporters went through a street food market (for lack of better terms) for the purpose of reporting on such foodstuffs. She squeamishly avoided trying anything, instead relying on a translation of a description of someone who essentially said that it (whether it was scorpions on a stick or fried starfish tentacles didn't matter) was good. The only thing she would eat was a sticky bun of sorts. No doubt NBC was proud of that segment. Idiots.

PawPaul · October 6, 2008 10:35AM

<< <i>Which hotel are you staying at? I stayed at the Shangri-La Kerry Center and the Kempinski Luftansa. Both are nice, and there are lots of incredible restaurants in Beijing. You should sample the food, which is actually quite good (except for the cat

). >>

THEY DON'T EAT CAT BOY- DOGS BY THE TRUCKFULL -BUT NO CATS

Doogy · October 6, 2008 10:43AM

as one who has been to a large Beijing coin show, you'd be shocked to see how many rare and scarce US and world coins are in the hands of major dealers from Hong Kong, mainland China, and Singapore. I know of two or three prominent dealers that i met in particular (having only previously known them by reputation) that had millions of dollars in scarce and rare PCGS/NGC US and world coins in their displays.

It is easy to joke about the tons of counterfeits being churned out there, but there are also some serious big time collectors and dealers there.

why do you think Mark Salzberg and Ron Guth are courting them so heavily, and speaking at Chinese and far east coin conferences?

tightbudget · October 6, 2008 10:44AM

I was in Beijing last summer and I didn't see too much in the way of counterfeit coins on the streets. You may find them in tourist-oriented markets though.

Going to China (Beijing) this week, what US coins do you think I will find?

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