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by **Pennysaved** » Mon Sep 21, 2015 8:09 am

I bought this 1878 S trade dollar at a thrift store. It does not stick to my powerful magnet so I am pretty sure it is silver. However, I know there are a lot of fakes of these.

It weighs 32.2 grams. It has an inscription along the edges "Da Oing Zao Bi Chang"

Do you think it is real or fake?

Thanks

by **Pennysaved** » Mon Sep 21, 2015 8:13 am

Some more photos

by **Pennysaved** » Mon Sep 21, 2015 8:15 am

One more photo of the edge

by **Market Harmony** » Mon Sep 21, 2015 8:17 am

This is a fake

by **Pennysaved** » Mon Sep 21, 2015 8:58 am

Thanks is it because of the weight? Just for my education.

by **Market Harmony** » Mon Sep 21, 2015 9:27 am

Because it wasn't made by the US mint. The die characteristics are way off. Primarily, the devices are "mushy" I could go into a bunch of other diagnostics, but I really don't think it would help you as much as you doing your own evaluation... comparing it to known authentic pieces and doing a side by side comparison. Your eye and your mind will be the best teacher

by **Pennysaved** » Mon Sep 21, 2015 9:56 am

Ok thanks I appreciate it

by **highroller4321** » Mon Sep 21, 2015 10:19 am

3 dead give aways its fake.

#1: The weight is suppose to be 27.22 grams or slightly less with wear
#2: The coin has an uneven "wear pattern". This basically means the coin isn't worn evenly across the entire coin. This is done to give it that aged look.
#3: As MH said the lettering on the coin is very mushy. The counterfeits never seem to be able to get very close to looking like the actually stamping. Look at a real dollar and you will be able to tell what we mean very easily.

All that being said I would not buy any trade dollars that weren't slabbed.

by **Pennysaved** » Mon Sep 21, 2015 10:26 am

Thanks....I was 50/50 on buying it but had to take a chance.

Luckily, I get to return it.

So it was a good lesson; thanks for all the information.

by **NiBullionCu** » Mon Sep 21, 2015 12:35 pm

#4: Real Trade Dollars have a reeded edge.

by **Recyclersteve** » Fri Oct 16, 2015 1:43 am

I'm not a dealer or expert on this, but the reverse just doesn't look right. If you compare it with the picture of a reverse from the 2011 Redbook (possibly the same photo used in other issues as well), it is different:

1) The eagle appears to be quite a bit smaller than the one in the Redbook; and
2) The text which says "420 grains, .900 fine" is way too far from the words "Trade dollar".

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