Ever been thrilled by the gleam of a Morgan Dollar, imagining a piece of American history in your hand? These iconic coins, minted from 1878 to 1904 and again in 1921, are highly sought after by collectors and history buffs alike. However, their popularity has also made them a prime target for counterfeiters. With sophisticated techniques and readily available materials, identifying a genuine Morgan Dollar from a convincing fake can be tricky, even for seasoned numismatists.
Protecting yourself from scams and ensuring you're investing in authentic pieces of history is crucial when dealing with collectible coins. A fake Morgan Dollar not only diminishes its monetary value to zero, but also deprives you of owning a genuine artifact from a pivotal era in American history. Learning how to properly authenticate these coins empowers you to make informed decisions, safeguard your investment, and appreciate the true beauty and value of a real Morgan Dollar.
What are the telltale signs of a counterfeit Morgan Dollar?
Does the coin's weight match the standard for Morgan dollars?
Yes, a genuine Morgan dollar should weigh 26.73 grams. A weight significantly outside this tolerance is a strong indicator of a counterfeit coin.
Counterfeiters often use cheaper, less dense metals to produce fake coins. This results in a coin that is either lighter or heavier than the genuine article. While a slight variation of a few hundredths of a gram can occur due to wear or minor manufacturing differences, a difference of a gram or more is highly suspicious. It's crucial to use a precise digital scale to accurately measure the weight of the coin. Always compare the measured weight against the standard of 26.73 grams.
Keep in mind that simply matching the weight isn't a guarantee of authenticity. Sophisticated forgeries might use metals that closely mimic the density of silver. Therefore, weight should always be considered in conjunction with other authentication methods, such as checking the coin's diameter, thickness, design details, and metallic composition using techniques like X-ray fluorescence (XRF) if possible.
How does the strike quality indicate authenticity?
The sharpness and detail of a Morgan dollar's strike are crucial indicators of authenticity because genuine coins, produced by U.S. Mint machinery, exhibit distinct, well-defined features. A weak, mushy, or uneven strike is a significant red flag, suggesting the coin was not manufactured using the high-pressure, precise methods of the Mint, and is likely a counterfeit.
Counterfeiters often struggle to replicate the intricate detail of a genuine Morgan dollar's design and the sharp relief imparted by the U.S. Mint's coining presses. Die wear, improper annealing, or insufficient striking pressure in the counterfeiting process can result in a coin with soft details, especially noticeable in areas like Liberty's hair, the eagle's feathers, and the denticles (small tooth-like projections) along the coin's rim. Genuine Morgan dollars, even circulated ones, should retain a good level of detail in these key areas. Furthermore, examine the fields (the flat areas around the design elements). Authentic Morgan dollars should have relatively smooth fields, although bag marks and surface abrasions are common on circulated examples. Counterfeits often exhibit grainy or porous fields, the result of inferior metal or casting processes. The presence of unnatural imperfections in the fields, particularly in conjunction with a weak strike, is a strong indicator of a fake.Are there any visible casting seams or imperfections?
Yes, the presence of visible casting seams or imperfections is a strong indicator that a Morgan dollar is a fake. Genuine Morgan dollars were struck from dies under immense pressure, not cast. Therefore, they should not exhibit the tell-tale signs of the casting process.
Casting is a method of creating objects by pouring molten metal into a mold. This process often leaves behind subtle but detectable marks on the finished product. These can include raised lines (seams) where the mold pieces joined together, small bubbles or pits on the surface (porosity), or a general lack of sharpness and detail in the design. On a genuine Morgan dollar, the design elements are crisp and well-defined due to the striking process. A cast fake will usually have a softer, less detailed appearance. Pay close attention to the coin's edge, as this is a common area to find casting seams. Use a magnifying glass to inspect the surfaces closely, looking for any evidence of these imperfections. Even a very slight seam or a small amount of porosity should raise serious concerns about the coin's authenticity. While genuine coins can have minor flaws from the minting process, they will not exhibit the characteristics of a cast coin.What sound should a genuine Morgan dollar make when dropped?
A genuine Morgan dollar, when dropped onto a hard surface, should produce a clear, ringing sound with a long sustain. This characteristic ring is due to the coin's high silver content (90% silver, 10% copper) and its size.
The exact pitch and duration of the ring can be somewhat subjective, but it should sound like a sustained "ping" rather than a dull "thud" or a short, muted sound. Counterfeit Morgan dollars often lack the proper silver composition or density, resulting in a noticeably different and less resonant sound. Some fakes are made of base metals and plated to appear like silver, while others might use a lower silver content alloy. These differences in materials directly impact the coin's acoustic properties.
It is important to note that while the "ring test" can be a helpful indicator, it shouldn't be the sole determining factor in authenticating a Morgan dollar. Other factors, such as weight, diameter, edge reeding, and design details, should also be carefully examined. Ideally, compare the sound of a suspected Morgan dollar to that of a known genuine example. Experienced coin collectors often develop a trained ear for the specific sound of silver coins.
How does the luster of a real Morgan dollar compare to a fake?
The luster of a genuine Morgan dollar, often described as "cartwheel luster," is a unique, radiating effect emanating from the center of the coin. It's caused by the microscopic flow lines created during the striking process at the mint. Fake Morgan dollars often exhibit a dull, artificial-looking luster, or a grainy, unnatural surface appearance because they weren't struck with the same force and die quality as authentic coins. Additionally, some fakes might be overly polished to mimic luster, resulting in a "whizzed" or unnaturally shiny surface that lacks the characteristic cartwheel effect.
A true Morgan dollar’s luster is dynamic; as you rotate the coin under a light source, the luster should appear to move across the surface in a circular pattern. This effect is very difficult to replicate convincingly. Counterfeiters may attempt to achieve a similar effect by using chemical treatments or other methods, but the result is rarely as smooth and consistent as the original. The "cartwheel" effect should transition smoothly from light to dark as the coin is rotated. Pay close attention to the fields (the flat areas around the design elements) of the coin. In genuine Morgan dollars, the luster in the fields should be consistent and uniform. Fake Morgan dollars often have inconsistent luster in the fields, with areas that appear dull or grainy. Moreover, examine the high points of the design, such as Liberty's cheek or the eagle's breast. Genuine coins will display a slightly different sheen on these high points compared to the fields, reflecting the light differently. Fakes often have a uniform, artificial luster across the entire surface, failing to capture these subtle nuances.What are the common die varieties and how are they faked?
Common Morgan dollar die varieties include doubled dies (where design elements appear duplicated), repunched mintmarks (where the mintmark was punched into the die multiple times), and clashed dies (where the obverse and reverse dies collided without a planchet, leaving faint impressions of one side on the other). While not typically "faked" in the sense of creating entirely counterfeit coins, these varieties are often artificially enhanced or outright manufactured on genuine, damaged, or altered coins to deceive collectors into paying a premium. This typically involves skillful tooling or engraving.
While creating entirely new die varieties on counterfeit blanks is rare, the most common faking method involves altering existing coins to *appear* to possess a valuable variety. This is often achieved through tooling (engraving) on the coin itself, especially around the mintmark. For example, a common, lightly struck Morgan dollar could be skillfully engraved to make it resemble a repunched mintmark (RPM) variety, and then sold as if it were the real thing to an unsuspecting collector. Because of this, the surfaces of the coin in these areas will show the tell tale signs of being engraved. Doubled die varieties are harder to fake convincingly on authentic coins, though not impossible. Often, sellers will try to misattribute a coin showing minor die wear or machine doubling as a more significant and valuable doubled die. These are not fakes, but misrepresentations. Legitimate doubled die varieties show clear, distinct doubling visible under magnification, usually strongest on inscriptions and design elements, and will appear 3-dimesional in appearance. Clashed die varieties can also be faked, although these are less commonly targeted. Since the clash marks are usually faint, they can be easily missed but also easily manufactured using light engraving tools. As always, buying from reputable dealers, careful examination under magnification, and comparing with certified examples are essential safeguards when seeking rare die varieties.How can I test the coin's silver content without damaging it?
Several non-destructive methods can help determine if your Morgan dollar is genuine silver. The most common and reliable options include the ping test (listening to the coin's resonance), specific gravity measurement (calculating density using weight and displacement), and using a handheld X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer, though XRF requires specialized equipment.
The ping test involves balancing the coin on your fingertip and tapping it gently with another coin or object. A genuine silver Morgan dollar will produce a clear, ringing tone with a long sustain, while a fake coin made of a different metal will sound dull or thud-like. You can compare the sound to that of a known genuine silver coin for reference. Online resources also provide audio examples for comparison. However, variations in striking and wear can slightly affect the ping, so it's not foolproof. Specific gravity measurement is more precise. You'll need a scale that measures in grams and a container of water. First, weigh the coin in air. Then, weigh the coin while it's submerged in water (without touching the container's sides or bottom). The specific gravity is calculated by dividing the weight in air by the difference between the weight in air and the weight in water. A genuine silver Morgan dollar should have a specific gravity of approximately 10.0. Slight variations can occur due to wear and minor alloy differences, but a significantly different result indicates a fake. Finally, handheld XRF analyzers provide a direct measurement of the coin's elemental composition. While expensive, these devices are used by coin dealers and serious collectors for accurate, non-destructive analysis. They can quickly identify the percentage of silver and other metals present in the coin, providing definitive proof of its composition.So, there you have it! Hopefully, you're now feeling a bit more confident about spotting a fake Morgan dollar. Remember, practice makes perfect, so keep an eye out and use these tips as your guide. Thanks for reading, and we hope you'll come back soon for more coin collecting insights!