Daily Yellowstone journal., 1888-07-07
AN EXPERT MONEY HANDLER
Tails What He Knows About Counterfeit
Kinds of Queer"

A@s
Combinations Kinds of Queer"
.'You would be surprised if should
give you some idea of the kinds of queer
coins circulating In this city, said Mr..
William Dickerman, a ex-treasury en-
ploye. but now publisher OF The United
States Treasury Counterfeit DetectSr.
IL will show you the best samples Of
queer gold and silver coins. Now,
strange TO say, there is no first rate our
terfeit OF the double eagle. There is a
fair counterfeit of the eagle, bearing date
1855. 1t has a very fine appearance, but,
as you see here, when the gold plating Is
worn oil il leaves the white metal under
meath exposed. OF the s. goldpiece
there are several very dangerous coun-
t~erfeits. The 1874 counterfeit was as
sayed and found to contain s4.47 worth
of gold. Consequently it resisted acid test
about as well as the genuine. Perhaps
the most dangerous counterfeit IS gold
piece is the one dated 1881 and 1882.
This counterfeit coin failed TO pass the
sharp eyes of John Fl. Vassar, Of the
Boston sub-treasury. 1t was sent TO the
United States Mint, and there analysed.
Its assay value is S4.43. The reeding
and milling are exceedingly well done.
Most of the coin counterfeits are made in
molds, but this one was, without doubt,
struck from a die prepared from what is
known as the drop process.
There are a great number Of very
clever counterfeits of the quarter eagle,
or Sc. 80 piece. The one bearing the 1862
date Is the most dangerous. 1t contains
only twenty-seven cents worth of gold,
and yet its size and weight are 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
''What are some Of the best counter
feits of silver money!
Here, for example, is a trade dollar
dated 1877, having mint marks 5. and Z.
G. II is only three grains lighter than
the genuine coin. Its composition is
silver, mercury and German silver. The
very best way { detect these counterfeits
is by the ring. \ good ear will dis
tinguisb. the sound at nee.
Then, again, there is the Bland or
standard dollar, first coined in 1878. A
number of clever counterfeits Of this coin
have come into my possession, which,
although made in q mold, have a fine
general appearance. They all come
nearly up 20 full weight, averaging from
$50 TO 4i0 grains. They are composed
Of anthony and lead and plated heavily
with silver. The ring is almost the same
as the genuine"
Listen to this keen, sharp ring" said
Mr.. Dickerman, as he threw down a
silver half dollar. Doesn't that sound
as if il contained glassl Well, that is a
counterfeit of 1876. This coin is nearly
full weight and size. But the milling
and reeding, and especially the lettering
Of the w.rd liberty on the shield Of the
goddess, are somewhat defective,
..Of small coins there are more queer
nickels than any other kind. All the
counterfeiter has to do is to read the act
of 1856 to find the composition Of alloy,
and then he can strike off coins Of the
same metal as the genuine nickels at a
profit of 3 "a cents each. Those bearing
the date of 1875 are well calculated to
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
captured a money making machine that
turned out nickels almost as fast rs a
nail machine turns out nails. IL would
seem as If every one engaged in the
queer business had q different way Of
fixing their stamps and making their
composition.
.'ls there any ether way Of making
coins queer besides using dies or
moldsi"
''Yes. there are several ways Of doc.
toring' coins. The most common process
Is plugging This is done by boring
holes in the coin, extracting the gold and
then filling in the cavity with cheaper
metal. Only the larger gold coins are
used for this purpose. The holes are
bored into the coin from the edge or
reeding. and afterward covered with
gold The reeding is then retouched.
where il 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 a perfec.
appearance, only the edge showing the
least sign Of being queer
Another process is called sweating
This is done by removing a portion Of
the gold from the surface of the coin by
an acid bath. The reduction in value If
such coins is from one.tenth 20 one.
fifteenth. OF course the coin subjected
to such a process has a fair appearance.
the weight only being short.
There is still another process, called
filling This is often done ~ saving
the coin through the edge or reeding, re
moving the interior and putting Ii
cheaper metal. Filling is also done by
saving the coin partly In two from the
edge or reeding. on one side, leaving a
thick and thin portion, The thin side Of
the coin is turned back and the gold
taken out from the thicker side. Tho
cavity Is filed with a cheap substitute.
and the sides pressed back and brazed
together. Thus the coin may lose over
one-half Of It's value, and still present a
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 viii be light weight
and will usually have a bad ring.-New
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