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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

Some more photos

One more photo of the edge

This is a fake

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

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

Ok thanks I appreciate it

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.

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.

#4: Real Trade Dollars have a reeded edge.

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".