Fake Coin Information

by eBay member: b2fb8e18d4a546c1f8aa3e80dae969aa178945380

100% of the trade dollars, peace dollars, and morgan dollars listed on e-bay from China are fake. This is the voice of experience speaking. I have purchased 11 trade dollars from four different sellers all of which claimed they were authentic and all graded as fake. Do not let the cheap price trap you. I am pleased that there are very few Trade or Morgan Dollars currently listed that show China as the location.

Various guides cautioning ebayers has helped reduce the fakes. HOWEVER, please remember there were many fakes sold in the U.S. before it was reduced to the current levels.

Those buyers are probably eager to pass their good fortune along to another unsuspecting ebayer. BEWARE OF UNGRADED RARE DATE COINS, even if they are being sold by a U.S. seller. There are many U.S. buyers who have bought fakes and would like to recover their investment. Always ask why a seller of a rare coin why the he/she is not having the coin graded? Even with authentic coins ungraded rare dates should raise a red flag. Frequently, the seller does not have it graded because of defects (cleaning, etc.) that causes it to be un-gradeable.

There is evidence that the China Scam artists are shifting to other coins see below on Peace Dollars. Just like the tainted food, the lead in toys, and other sub-standard products from China, a China seller on e-bay in coins and most high dollar art, etc. is a virtual guarantee of a fake. As we all know, a citizen of China would certainly not scam an American, yeah right. If you believe that I have some swap land in Florida I would like to sell you.

BUY ONLY CERTIFIED (by PCGS, NGC, ICG, or ANACS) trade dollars (of all dates), morgan dollars (of rare dates), or any rare date coins, since third tier grading services will grade FAKES as authentic and there is another guide on e-bay where a Washington Quarter clearly altered but the third tier grading services still graded as high uncirculated even though the coin was clearly altered.

All the fake trade dollars I purchased from China weighted correctly and did not have several of the grading points that normally identify fakes (be sure your trade dollars measure exactly 38.1 millimeters in diameter), a smaller diameter indicates a cast coin (reproductions). Also, contrary to some guides on e-bay, most of the China reproductions are caste in brass. The coin still rings like silver, but brass castings shrink by approximately 6% which reduces the diameter from the correct 38.1 Millimeters.

There have been so many fake trade and morgan dollars sent to the U.S. it would be wise to avoid any ungraded dollars, since U.S. sellers may be passing these fakes along to the next buyers. If you do buy an ungraded trade dollar have it graded immediately, even if it is a U.S. seller. If you bought from a U.S. seller you might have a chance to get your money back, but if you bought from China lots of luck getting a refund.

PLEASE NOTE, even graded coins may not be authentic if you buy a third and fourth class grading service (see my guide All Grading Services are not Equal). See other guides on buyers who have bought graded coins that turned out to be FAKES.

When buying graded Trade Dollars stick to the four most reputable grading services (PCGS, NGC, ICG, & ANACS). Second tier grading services have been known to grade fake coins of all types and higher value Gold Coins are a favorite of forgers.

Also, beware of other key date morgans (i.e. 1893 S, etc.) from China. These are almost certainly fake. The Chinese are very excellent artisans and they are naturally choosing the rarest dates to copy. So the old adage is correct, if it is to good to be true it probably is. Buyer beware of ALL coins from China...

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by ebay member dutch4

Buyers need to BEWARE of TRADE DOLLARS being sold from China, found quite a few of the Trade Dollars and looked very closely at the pic and the price wasn't right. Way too low for a $250.00 ++ coin. I emailed the seller and asked why the feedbacks were private, already had a dozen or so of negatives; the reply was they're private cause they are. All you buyers had best beware of anything coming out of China. If the feedbacks and bidders list cannot be viewed, best question the auction of that coin!!!!!!

Pay particular attention to details on the coins, use your coin grading books or visit several web-sites that have excellent photos of coins in high definition.

Also, in Coin Market Price Guide, in G-4 condition, the starting price varies from $60.00 to $275.00, in XF there isn't a coin below $120.00. Suggest you really use all the resources available before bidding on the FAKE Trade Dollars being offered on auction. As the old saying goes, if it's too good to be real, then BEWARE!!!!

#4 UPDATE: I just got an email from a gentleman over in Dusseldorf, Germany, where he was shopping the flea markets. Lo and behold guess what he found?? Loads of Trade Dollars, Morgans and a few others all be peddled very cheaply. So folks, you also need to watch out at the flea markets while you're looking for them bargins. It all goes back to the buyer beware, one must do your research before buying coins from anyone.
# 3 UPDATE: I personally emailed one individual selling from China asking them who the grading company was that was grading their coins and also how long have they been in business. You guessed right, no answer whatsoever. Now one must watch for the FAKE SLABBED COINS. One of the other items one needs to keep an eye on if things look suspicious on the auction is how many times has the seller changed ID's??? I spent some time looking at a few of these sellers from China and now Japan, they all have numerous ID changes. I also see some Trade Dollars being sold from within the US and hidden down in the fine print are the words informing one that the coin is a replica. Question, why isn't this in the Title area or why doesn't ebay require that information upfront like they do on whether the coin is certified, business strike, etc. etc.?? After doing considerable looking in the Trade Dollar category, I see less and less of these being auctioned from China. So one of several things are happening: The sellers are getting the hint or the buyers are becoming knowledgeable and are ignoring the fakes. I have received numerous emails from potential buyers and some that weren't so lucky commenting about my guide on Trade Dollars, all very positive.
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