My strange Xmas gift. 1887 CC Morgan Dollar...

[thecrazyone]

I am totally confused on this. My father gives me a coin that has been in his collection for approximately 40 years. He thought it was an 1887 O Morgan Dollar, but after looking at it magnified, it's CC. The redbooks claim one wasn't made that year at CC, but:

1. A magnet doesn't stick to it.
2. It rings when you drop it.
3. It weighs 26.7g with my mini digital scale.

Is it just an excellent counterfeit?

[NiBullionCu]

What does the edge look like?

I'm guessing it was made from two coins. (Or the 'CC' was added to a genuine 1887).

[thecrazyone]

Here's the edge, and the weight:

[Rodebaugh]

She is as thick as a Pillsbury biscuit!

[galenrog]

Only two possibilities. Altered or counterfeit.

Time for more coffee.

[Thogey]

Very cool creation!

[thecrazyone]

This is a real bummer. I have no idea what even to do with this thing now. I don't want to sell it to someone when it's a fake, and I don't keep fakes for myself. I guess it's worth it just to keep for its silver content, but this just totally sucks! I also told my father about the discovery, but was torn to do so, since he has thought for decades that it was real (granted, he thought it was an O, bc he did not use a magnifier). Maybe it is just an altered 1887 like others have mentioned, but still, ppl who mod these coins just suck.

[Thogey]

How much do you want for it?

[Thogey]

I sent a PM

[coppernickel]

May be worth sending to get slabbed. IF it is real then it may be worth a few dollars.

Taking this into account with the other coin. It looks like your dad inherited a collection of error coins from a by-gone era. I am inclined to think they are both real error coins. You may have found the jackpot.

[Thogey]

I hope it's your jackpot.
If not, it's a very cool fantasy piece, and you need not be ashamed for selling it as such.


add: I wonder if the counterfeit was made by someone who did not know such coin does not exist and was stuck with it. Some chinaman went through all the trouble of making a good die, or a jeweler spent many hours to make a non-sellable fake.

[thecrazyone]

It's been a year, I still have this coin, and I'm still pondering on sending it to NGC or PCGS.

My grandfather was the big collector in our family, and chances are that is where my father got these coins. My grandfather was also really good at this stuff, and back in the day, he even had Roman coins. That update has prompted me to buy one myself.

I just read that NGC uses Xrays do determine authenticity of a coin as well. My question is, if this coin IS real, and they determine that, what are my chances of actually SEEING it again? Maybe I need to just throw some stimulus money at the grading.

I also saw this one out on the Web, and the viewers were quick to shoot it down as fake:

https://www.coincommunity.com/forum/top ... C_ID=79823

[highroller4321]

It's been a year, I still have this coin, and I'm still pondering on sending it to NGC or PCGS.

My grandfather was the big collector in our family, and chances are that is where my father got these coins. My grandfather was also really good at this stuff, and back in the day, he even had Roman coins. That update has prompted me to buy one myself.

I just read that NGC uses Xrays do determine authenticity of a coin as well. My question is, if this coin IS real, and they determine that, what are my chances of actually SEEING it again? Maybe I need to just throw some stimulus money at the grading.

I also saw this one out on the Web, and the viewers were quick to shoot it down as fake:

https://www.coincommunity.com/forum/top ... C_ID=79823

The coin is no good so I wouldn't waste your time or money on grading. If it makes you feel better you can have them tell you the same thing. If its no good they will still charge you the same fee and it will come back in a flip marked counterfeit.

[thecrazyone]

What would I use to at least confirm it is silver? Nitric acid?

[rainsonme]

I accumulate coins that I think might be worth grading, and when I have a large bunch, I send them in, so the postage and handling are spread across more coins. 10 or more. You might just put a note on it , so you remember why you were going to grade it, and see if a few more "gradeables" don't pass your stack in the next year or two. No hurry; the silver wont deteriorate. I had a VERY convincing silver half-dollar ---- 1971, I think. If I hadn't sent it in to confirm it was fake, it would have driven me nuts. If no one can prove to you it is fake, put it aside to be sent in for grading some day. Your odds aren't worse than a lottery ticket ------ they cost money too, I am told.

[thecrazyone]

Since it is going on 2 years now that I have had this coin, I have sent an email to NGC to see if they will consider it for review. I not only want to know if it is real, but I would really like to know if it is truly silver.

I will see if they reply, and go from there. Can you imagine if it really were an error coin, and was in fact, real? I don't think I would know what to do with it if that were the case.

[NiBullionCu]

Carson City mint did not strike any Morgan Dollars in the years 1886, 1887, 1888.

Your coin is at best altered, or at worst counterfeit.

NGC will gladly take your money to tell you it is no good and return it un-holdered.

[shinnosuke]

Since it is going on 2 years now that I have had this coin, I have sent an email to NGC to see if they will consider it for review. I not only want to know if it is real, but I would really like to know if it is truly silver.

I will see if they reply, and go from there. Can you imagine if it really were an error coin, and was in fact, real? I don't think I would know what to do with it if that were the case.

Isn't there a reputable coin shop near you who could tell you the same thing some very knowledgable members here have already told you? Then you could finally sleep at night.

[thecrazyone]

Since it is going on 2 years now that I have had this coin, I have sent an email to NGC to see if they will consider it for review. I not only want to know if it is real, but I would really like to know if it is truly silver.

I will see if they reply, and go from there. Can you imagine if it really were an error coin, and was in fact, real? I don't think I would know what to do with it if that were the case.

Isn't there a reputable coin shop near you who could tell you the same thing some very knowledgable members here have already told you? Then you could finally sleep at night.

I mean no disrespect to anyone here whatsoever, and I thought I actually had taken it to a shop (I know I took one coin there for the same reason).

I guess that, at the end of the day, I'd like to know if it's at least really silver. I did not get the opportunity to see what NGC charges to grade, and they have not yet replied to my email, so, you're probably right in that I'd be throwing more money away to have them review fake money. It just really sucks.

At least it looks like there are more than 1 out there (this one is not mine):

https://www.coincommunity.com/forum/top ... C_ID=79823

[thecrazyone]

Just a small update on this thread: I have a very strong earth magnet on the way to me in the mail. I will be using that to see if this coin is a fake or not. Will post results.

[Recyclersteve]

Another possibility. Some coin shows have people who give free opinions on the legitimacy and grade of a coin. You might try that before spending a lot of money on this.

And another thought. I have some known counterfeit coins (a magnet sticks to all of them) that I purposely keep at home in case I’m ever robbed by someone. They are definitely NOT made of silver. One in fact is an 1887-CC, the same date as yours! Another one is a super obvious fake. It is a Peace dollar with 2 obverses- 1922 on one side and 1923 on the other.

[thecrazyone]

And another thought. I have some known counterfeit coins (a magnet sticks to all of them) that I purposely keep at home in case I’m ever robbed by someone. They are definitely NOT made of silver. One in fact is an 1887-CC, the same date as yours!

No way!!!! That is too wild.

I only spent 4 bucks on the magnet, and got it with an eBay gift card I got for Xmas. I sound like a baby bird here. Cheep cheep cheap.

[68Camaro]

It isn't a hollow coin? It could be made from two real coins that assemble tight and leave a space in the middle where you can keep something like a memory chip.

[thecrazyone]

I would think that would make the coin lighter and it's 26.7g.

[thecrazyone]

The super strong earth magnet came today and does not stick to it at all.