The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-05-14
DANGEROUS COUNTERFEIT COINS.
An Interview with an Expert Money
Handler.

tl4C hAIbc VI AACCl NOtllo III
this city" said Mr.. William Dic&erman, an
ex-Treasury employe, but now publisher of
The United States Treasury Counterfeit
DetectOr
Most people," continued Mr.. Dickerman,
do not pay the same attention to small
coins as they pay to bank notes. If the
bogus coin looks all right it is taken without
any examination. Then, again, spurious
coins are made more easily than notes.
Besides requiring a large amount of skill, 1t
takes even good eugraver five or six
months to finish the plates of bank note.
But moulds of various kinds eau be made
within week or two al very little expense.
Most of the counterfeit silver is made from
moulds. The most dangerous counterfeits
are those ST. uck from die, but these are
mostly among the bogus gold coins.
u Will show you best samples Of queer
gold and silver coins Now strange to say,
there is no firstrate counterfeit of the double
eagle. There is a fair counterfeit of the
eagle, bearing date 1855. 1t has very fine
appearance, but as you see here, when the
gold plating is worn off, it leaves the white
metal underneath exposed. OF the IS gold
piece there are several very dangerous coun-
terfeits. The 1914 counterfeit was aSsayed
and found to contain 81 II worth of gold.
Consequently it resisted acid test
about as well as the genuine. Per-
haps the most dangerous counterfeit So
gold piece is the one dated 1881 and 1882.
This counterfeit coin failed to pass the
sharp eyes of John H. Vassar, of the Boston
Sub-Treasury. 1t was sent to the United
States mint, and there analyzed. Its assay
value is "a 43. The reeding and milling are
exceedingly well done. Most of the coin
counterfeits are made in moulds, but this
one was, without doubt, struck from die
prepared from what is known as the drop
process.
There are a great number of very clever
counterfeits of the quarter eagle or 50 80
piece. The one bearing the 1852 date is the
most dangerous 1t contains only 27 cents
worth of gold, and yet its size and weight
is correct The best acid tests have failed
to reveal its bogus nature. The other
counterfeits are mostly composed of brass
or platinum, and then heavily gold plated. y
"What are some OF the best counterfeits
of silver money~
Here. for example, is a trade dollar
dated 1877, having mint marks S. and c.. G.
1t is only three grains lighter than the gen.
uine coin. Its composition is silver, mer-
curry and German silver. The very best
way to detect these counterfeits is hy the
ring. A good ear will distinguish the sound
at once.
Then, again, there is the Bland or stand
ard dollar, first coined in 1875 A number
of clever counterfeits of this coin have
come in my possession, which, although
made in a mould, have a fine general APP
pearance. They all come nearly up to full
weight, averaging from $50 to 4l0 grains.
They are composed of autimony and lead,
and plated heavily with silver. The ring
is almost the same as the genuine.
Listen to this keen, sharp ring said
Mr.. Dickermen, as he threw down a silver
half dollar. doesn't that sound as if it
| contained glaSs!'
"Well, that is counterfeit of 1876 This
coin is nearly full weight and size. But the
milling and reeding, and especially the let
tering of the word Liberty on the shield
of the goddess are somewhat defective.
"Of small coins, there are more queer
| nickels than any other kind. All the coun-
terfeiter has to do is to read the act of 1886
TO find the composition of alloy, and then
he can strike off coins of the same metal as
the genuine nickels at profit of 394c. each
Those bearing the date of 1875 are well cal
culated 10 deceive, although the lettering in
the words United States Is imperfect, and
the stars surrounding the figure - are not
well done.
''The devices used to make these small
coins are often exceedingly ingenious. Last
year the Chief of the Secret Service cap
tured a money-making machine that
turned out nickels almost as fast as a nail
machine turns out nails. 1t would seem as
if every one engaged in the queer bust
ness had a different way of fixing their
stamps, and making their composition"
Is there any other way of making coins
| queer besides using dies or mouldsf"
"Yes, there are several ways of doctor
| ing COINS The most common process is
| plugging This is done by boring holes in
the coin, extracting the gold, and then fill
ing in the cavity with cheaper metal. Only
| the larger gold coins are used for this pur-
pose. The holes are bored into the coin
| from the edge or reeding, and afterward
covered with gold. The reeding is then re-
| touched, whore it has been removed by a
file or machine for this purpose. A coin
that has been plugged is well calculated to
pass the sharpest eye, as it has perfect APP
pearance, only the edge showing the least
| sign of being queer
'Another" process is called sweating.
| This is none by removing a portion of the
gold from the surface of the coin by an acid
bath. The reduction in value of such coins
is from one-tenth to one-fifteenth. OF course,
the coin subjected to such process has
fair appearance, the weight only being
short.
"There is still another process called fill
! ing This is often done by saving the coin
through the edge or reeding, removing the
interior, and putting in cheaper metal.
Filling is done by saving the coin partly
in two from the edge or reeding, on one
side, leaving a thin and thick portion. The
thin side Of the coin is turned back, and the
| gold taken out from the thicker side. The
cavity IS filled with cheap substitute, and
the sides pressed back, and brazed together.
| Thus the coin may lose over one-half of its
value, and still present good appearance
| Platinum is mostly used to replace the gold
extracted, both being of the same weight.
When other and less costly filling than
| platinum is used, the bogus coin will be
| light weight, and will usually have a bad
| ring.
cit is surprising" said Mr.. Dlckerman,
in conclusion, 'how many Italians are en-
gagged in passing the queer The Chief of
the Secret Service told me a short time ago
that he found they outnumbere1 all the
other cassfs They arc not clever counter
feiters. They make, usually, only small
coins, and try TO pass them Off
on some newly arrived emigrants. or
some fruit vendor. A great many saloon
keepers Of this city are as bad as tho coun-
terfeiters themselves. They give bogus
! money TO any person who is too "fuli" to
know the difference between good and bad
coin. Yes, there are even some merchants
who, when they have q bad coin passed on
them. think they have a perfect right TO
pass it on some ono else" S. j. VANCE.
|
SURVIVORS OF A SCHOONER.
They Reach New York Two Months
After Their Vessels Loss.