The San Francisco call., 1896-10-27
CANhDA'S FLOOD
OF BOGUS COIN
Officials Alarmed by the
Activity of Chinese
Counterfeiters.
Thousands of Half.Dollars Put
Into Circulation at
Vancouver.
ALMOST PERFECT IN DESIGN.
Detected Only When. Examined
Through Powerful Magnify.
ing Glasses.
ALMOST PERFECT IN DESIGN.

VANCOUVER, B. c., Oct. 26.-Since the
discovery was made recently that Chinese
counterfeiters were shipping bogus Cana
dian half dollars to Vancouver, where
tkey were put into circulation, the Do
Mnion authorities have discovered that
the Mongolians have been operating on so
extensive a scale as 10 cause the gravest
alarm. An attempt is evidently being
made to dump upon the Canadian market
i'm mmense consignments of counterfeit
coin made by these Oriental counterfeiters,
who are adopts in their production. 1t
has been ascertained that 10000 bogus half
dollars arrived on recent Oriental
steamer and were passed by the port au-
thorities under the impression that they
were genuine coin of the realm. 1t ap-
pears that as yet no information can be
obtained as to the whereabouts of the real
conslgnor or consignees. The false circu-
lating medium, once obtained by the coun-
terfeiter's agents, was launched indiscrim-
inately upon the Vancouver market and
received by every one in trade until it
reached the banks. Here the date of the
coin (1S94) was noticed by the teller of
the Bank of British Columbia and,
as the Dominion Government had is
sued no coin bearing that date, minute
examination was made with a powerful
magnifying in comparison with genuine
coin.
1t was found that the interstices of the
milling in the false coin are wider than
those OF the real. The lettering about the
Queen head is not so clearly defined in
4 /, H. H.r
bogus coin is a shade heavier in weight;
in other respects there is practically no
noticeable difference.
1t is estimated by assayers that the
Chinese production contains 48 per cent
pure silver. With so handsome margin
and such an excellent imitation the coun-
feiters will not likely rest content with the
profit on one issue of their goods.
This consignment from the Orient re-
ceiyes special significance when taken in
conf junction with the following recently
published statement of Edward Atkinson,
the eminent writer on economic and tinan-
eial questions, who says:
When was in London a few years ago
heard rumor that measures were being taken
TO make dies exactly corresponding to the
stamp of our standard United States dollars,
converting United States trade dollars and
Mexican dollars into standard dollars.
Il was said that this could be
done only at the expense of coming
the silver being already assayed and alloyed,
and each dollar weighing 80 grains more
than our standerd dollar. 1t was said that
these coins could be sent through Mexico,
British Columbia and the Sandwich Islands
from China in sufficiently large quantities TO
make it very profitable business. l was un-
able to trace this rumor to its source and have
never seen any evidence that it had been car
fried into effect. But how could that evidence
be obtained? We know that there are only
about 5000, 600 standard dollars of our own
coinage in circulation. How do we know that
there are not any more of exactly the same
weight and quality, carrying the same identi-
cal stamp, which have been made for us in
China and Japan, or in Mexico, where the
profit would be nearly SO per cent? How long
will it be before such plan is worked OH
very extensive scale, even If it has not yet
been worked?