The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1884-11-12
WITHOUT THE RIGHT RING.
PxoKxNa OUT ooUrTERrEETs IN
AmERxcAN COINS.
The limitations OF Gold, silver, ana
Other Pieces am How They arc
Mado and Uetertcd.

lr. Dickerman, OF the United States
Treasury. Counterfeit Deiect0r, has been
giving New York Times reporter some
valuable and interesting information
about the various counterfeits of United
States coins: "There are" he said,
''twenty distinct coins of the United
States. Five of these are nickel, or
nickel, copper, and bronze; nine are
silver and six are gold All but one
have been counterfeited again and again.
The gold coins are the double eagle or
twenty-dolar piece the eagle, half
eagle, three-dollar piece, quarter eagle,
and dollar. The double eagle, fresh from
the mint, weighs 516 grains, OF more
than 100 grains more than the standard
silver dollar. An abrasion of 2.5S grains
is allowed before the coin is classed as
counterfeit, or rather Eight weight, and
unless artifcially reduced it should con-
tinue current half a century. Coinage
of double eagles was begun in 1850, and
up to June 80, 1888, AS, $50, 500 pieces
had been issued. The cnly counterfeit
of the double eagle so far discovered is
of the 1850 issue. 1t weighs $50 grains,
and is composed of 571 parts of gold, So
of silver, and 344 of copper. Its actual
value is $3.50. 1t is lighter in appear
ance than the genuine, though thicker.
The reeding and milling are defective, as
Is the case with most counterfeit coins.
The coinage of eagles began in 1898,
and up to June 80, 1882, 10, 100, ,272
pieces had been issued. The coin
weighs just half as much as a double
eagle, will stand a proportionate abra-
sion, and ought to continue current
thirty-five years. Prior to 1884 the
mint weight of the eagle was 270 grains.
Counterfeits of five issues of the eagle
are in circulation, namely of the issues
1S41, 1S47, 1849, 1855 and 1880. That
of 1S47 is the most dangerous, as it
weighs only six grains less than the gen
uine.
THE genuine half eagle weighs when
it leaves the mint, 1873 grains, and will
stand reduction of "a grain 1t ought
to remain current twenty years. Coin.
age of the half eagle was begun in 1898,
and up to June 30 of last year 50, 913,-
1876 pieces had been put forth There
are thirteen counterfeits of the half
eagle, some of which are we'll executed
and very dangerous The counterfeits
are of the issues of 1900, 1903, 1889,
1643, 1914, 1S47, 1S4S, 1S41, 1855, 1868.
AOSos AOaO1 AOOA, \bWOJ duO 1909.
"There are no counterfeits of the
three-dollar gold piece, which was first
coined in 1854, and weighs TIA grains.
The maximum of abrasion is .3S grain.
The quarter eagle was first coined in
1856, and ought to last fifteen years 1t
weighs CAS- grains, and the limit of
abrasion is .32 grain. There are seven
counterfeits six of which were made in
molds and are from 1876 to 24.5 grains
light. They are of the issues of lS49,
two counterfeits,) 1874, 1916, 1852 and
1861. A counterfeit of 1862 is made of
platinum, is only halfa grain light, and
can only be detected after the plating
has worn off or by acid. 1t is the ony
dangerous counterfeit quarter eagle.
"Gold dollars were first coined in
1649 and up to June 80 of last year o.
81, 364 pieces had been issued. The
mint weight is %. grains, and the limit
of abrasion IS .13 grain. There are coun
terfeits of the issues of 1881, 1852, 1858,
1854, 1856, 1867 and 1861. The first
four weigh, respectively, II, IA, "a and
10 grains. They are made in a mold, and
are heavily plated. The last three weigh
respectively, 13, IA, and 10 grains. They
are made of brass and bronze, and, like
all the counterfeit gold dollars, may be
readily detected by their light weight
and general appearance"
''All this is very interesting" said the
reporter, "but there are several persons
who don't handle enough gold to be
alarmed at the prevalence of counter
feits. What about silverl"
''Every silver coin now in circulation
has its counterfeits- Even the buzzard
dollar has not been deemed unworthy of
imitation. Trade dollars were coined
from 1878 to 1878. They weigh 49O
grains. Every issue has been extensively
counterfeited. Most of the counterfeits
are over 100 grains light and have a
soapy, greasy feeling. They are made of
type metal and pulyerized glass. The
two most dangerous counterfeits of the
trade dollar are dated 1877, and bear the
mint marks, ''s" and sc c." They are
only three grains light and are actually
worth fifty-seven cents. They are made
of silver, mercury and German silver,
and, except for a defective ring, are
nearly perfect. Standard dollars were
first coined in 1884, and then as now the
Inint weight was 412.5 grains. Many of
the old issues were eounterfeited
The composition used was generally
German silver. Others were
made of brass and plated with
genuine silver Coinage of the Bland
standard dollar was begun in 1878. All
the issues since that time have been ex-
tensively counterleited, the usual COM
position being antimQny and lead,
heavily plated. They are made in a
mold aud are usually 100 grains light.
There are, however, several counterfeits
Of the standard dollar which are nearly
full weight and are very dangerous.
They are almost perfect limitations. The
ring is a little defective. Half dollars
prior to 1887 weighed POS grains. From
1887 Ia 1858 the weight was FOG. 25
grains. The present weight is 1872 8