Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1877-03-01
counterfeit HalE.DOllars.

Mr.. William E. Du Bois, Assayer of the
United States Mint at Philadelphia. warns
the public against counterfeit half-dollars
He writes as follows
AS these pieces are beginning to show them
selves, though not in an alarming quantity, q
few simple directions for detecting them may
be useful, especially in the stores and shops.
Counterfeiters generally content themselves
with the cheap and quiet process Of casting
from models, though sometimes they strike
the pieces from dies. The mold is made from
the genuine coin, and yields a fac similie.
They use type metal, somewhat hardened
and sonorous by the addition of copper, and
the whole being slightly silvered over in a
battery, and the ''gate' neatly ribbed out on
the edge, such piece may pass while fresh
and new. They are, however, rather too
white and too thick, or, if of right thick
ness, too light. There is something about
the genuine coin that ordinarily puts it above
suspicion, particularly after the new white
surface has given place to the inimitable and
permanent ''nine-tenths tint" 1t may be
abused by heating or straining, or by contact
figured with tin foil for the small purpose of
provoking bet. In rare cases it may have
a flaw at the edge, or shut in, which destroys
the ring. But generally it speaks well for
itself as to color and sorority. The genuine
ness of a half-dollar is something worth look
ing after to any of us, and especially to
storekeeper taking them often through tie
day. 1t is, therefore, worth the trouble to
have on the counter one or two witnesses,
easy to be had. First, balance, which need
be no more than thin strip of wood, eight
or ten inches long, neatly poised. Place
good piece on one end and the suspected one
on the other, and have a weight of three
grains at hand. If the difference is more than
that, decline taking the piece. A much better
instrument would be the one in vogue many
years ago for gold, mau. t brass, and taking
not only the weight, but also the gauge OF
diameter and thickness. Any one wishing to
see this simple affair, with view of making
it for sale, may call at the office of the under
signed no doubt it could be sold at 80 cents.
1t should be adapted to the half and quarter
dollar, and, perhaps the whole dollar. Sec
ond, liquid test, composed as follows: "a
grains of nitrate of silver in crystals, one
gramme (say Is grains) Of nitric acid, and
one ounce of water. Any druggist can put
this up in small bottle, with a pointed glass
stopper made for lifting drops, taking care
to use pure ingredients Remove little of
the surface of the coin by knife and then
touch the piece with drop from the stopper.
If good, there will be no action; if bad, it
blackens at once. 1t should be observed that
this is not the compound we use for examining
gold, counterfeits and jewelry; and, further,
some persons use nitric acid alone, which
will discolor good coin as we'll as bad one.
As for the pieces struck from dies, they are
generally such poor limitations that the taker
almost deserves to lose by them. Such
piece, dated 1876, is now before me; good
color, feeble and faulty devices, light weight.
but quite too thick. 1t would he caught by
the gauge already mentioned. 1t is whitish
brass, with silver plating more substantial
than the electro-silvering. 1t is well that the
courts and officers of the law are diligent in
arresting the business, while the Tellers of
the Treasury and the banks throw out spur
ious offers, so that it will not commonly be
necessary to use any other test than the eye