The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-07-03

because the least current weight OF the
latter is established, whereas in silver q
coin of light weight, so long as the re:
duction is not manifestly too great, will
pass. The standard weights and least
current weights of gold coin are as fol-
lows:
Sc Sc Disee-ssnd'rd' e grains ''.': sur'ns wight u Ia 4
s s." II a." ls IL
ANY decrease in weight below the lat
ter figures subjects the holder to a loss
equivalent to the difference. This de-
crease may occur by wear, or, as is very
often the case, through sundry nefarious
processes. which, though not properly
counterfeiting, nevertheless belong to
that species of crime.
These operations are perhaps the
most dangerous to the community, be-
cause as O rule the coin preserves it's ap-
pearance, is apparently genuine under
the acid test, and in fact is genuine ex-
cept in weight. It is impossible, for
example, to tell whether a coin has been
"sweated " or not without weighing it,
and by sweating is meant the use Of the
coin as the anode in the electroplating
bath, the gold being distracted from it
and deposited on another surface. Of
course q uniform quantity is removed
from the entire surface, and the imprint
retains it's original sharpness. As much
as two dollars worth of gold is some
times taken from the double eagle in
this way. A less scientific plan is n
too commonly adopted by conscience
less jewelers., who when they want a
little gold, instead of buying the prec-
ious metal, purchase a twenty dollar
piece, file of with a dead smooth file a
sufficient quantity, reburnish the place,
and pass off the coin at full value. The
most extensive fraud perpetrated on
gold coinage is "splitting." The
operator uses q fine saw to split the
coin neatly in two. Then he gouges the
gold out OF the center until only C thin
outside shell is left, and substitutes q
silver and platinum alloy for the metal
thus a~bstracted. The two parts are
then Joined with gold solder, and the
edge is remilled. In this way. we are
informed, gold to the value of $3.50
has been taken from a single piece.
The operation, however, generally de-
stroys the ring or tone OF the coin,
leaving it, besides, either too light or
too thick. Another swindle is to bore
into the edge, and it is said that John
Chinaman favors this game, buying up
the pieces, sending them to China, so
that his dexterous compatriots may
there manipulate them in safety, and
subsequently reimporting them to set
them adrift upon the unsuspecting
American public. The holes whence
the gold is taken are reflled with silver,
covered with gold solder, and the edges
are neatly finished /; butthe light weight
reveals the theft. From five to seven
and a half dollars worth of gold has
thus been taken from one coin, and the
pieces of course have every appearance
Of being genuine, Real counterfeits-
that is, coin wholly spurious because
made of base metal-are almost invari-
ably below weight, An exception to
this, however, exists in a five dollar
piece which is of the exact standard
weight of 1923 grains. It is composed
of an alloy of gold and silver, and is
worth from 50. 70 to IS. 40. Its appear
II c and tone are excellent, but it Is
thicker than the genuine coin, and hence
may be detected by the gauge. Still it
is one of the most dangerous counter
feits in existence.
As we have stated a silver piece passes
current 80 long as the imprint is not
badly defaced or weight greatly re-
duced. 4 hole through the coin, how
ever, condemns ia fact. we believe,
not generally known. The low value OF
silver prevents any such proceedings as
in the case of gold, as the amount which
could safely be abstracted will not pay
for the trouble of doing it. Consequent
~ all silver counterfeits are true imlta-
lions, and there is hardly q date OF dol
lar, half dollar, or quarter which has
not been copied with remarkable accur-
acy. The counterfeiter either makes a
mould in plaster from the real coin and
casts from it, or he stamps his imitation
in dies. As this last process is the same
as is in use in the mints, the counter
feits thus produced are more difficult
to detect, because, besides being more
accurately finished, the compression
which the alloy receives brings it nearer
to standard weight. A large number OF
counterfeit silver coins are made chiefly
of type-me'al. A very dangerous half
dollar is composed of silver, copper,
and zinc, and is worth about seventeen
cents. It is from seven to ten grains
too light. Spurious half dollars have
appeared which constantly deceive bank
tellers and other experts because they
are of full weight. They are made Of a
compound similar to German silver, and
are SO we'll plated with genuine silver
that the acid does not affect them. They
are, however, too thick, and the gauge,
as usual where the balance fails, shows
the fact. C~ounterfeits of the quarter
dollar, though very plenty, are less dan
gerous than those of larger pieces. They
are composed of anthony, tin, and lead,
and are both too light and too thick, oil.
though they have a good ring. A pecul-
lar composition has been employed, to
which powdered glass is added to give a
clear sound; but this is but a clumsy
expedient, as the coin is far below prop
or weight, a fact easily appreciable by
mere handling.
It is a difficult matter to lay down any
general rules for detecting counterfeit
coins, as it will be seen from the FORE
going that the closest ocular inspection
may be wholly at fault. In general the
milling on the edge of the counterfeit
coin is always poorly executed as com
pared with the genuine; but wear of the
latter often renders the distinction diff
cult to draw. Another point worth re-
membering is that absence of clear tore
in q coin is not necessarily proof of its
falsiry, because it may and does happier
that q crack or flaw is made in the meta
during the rolling, and this, just as in 9
bell, will of course destroy the vibra
IL a.