The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-08-23

first put into circulation. After time
 the plating wears off about the edges
 and it's spurious base is revealed. In
 order to give weight, counterfeiters off, : ten increase the diameter of the coins slightly, but sufficient to make an ap- preciable difference. Lead, type-metal zinc, and antimony are the metals prin- 1 cipally used for silver counterfeiting, and copper, brass, silver and platinum for gold limitations Counterfeits of lead and type-metal are easily detected, and are passed on ignorant persons or for i eigners.
 "Antimony and lead are the compon- ent parts of the most dangerous coun- terfeits of silver coins, the antimony furnishing the bulk of the coin. When struck from good dies, with a heavy plating of silver, they give forth good ring, and present pretty fair substi- tute for the genuine article. The dollar is the denomination most counterfeited. These coins are but little below stand ard weight. Some of the commercials of the subsidiary coins are made of brass, struck from die, and heavily silver plated. These may be readily de- tected, as they are light weight.
 "Counterfeits are, of course, made of genuine silver of standard weight; in fact some have more silver in them than the genuine coin, which is 412 1-2 grains. We confscate these coins when we receive them. The counterfeiters rely, of course, upon the increased value of the white metal when it is changed from bullion into coin for the profit, and 1t is considerable.
 Counterfeit gold coins may be exc cuted with such exquisite precision that they will pass muster under the eyes of bank tellers and others used to the handling of coins though the average teller generally detects a spurious coin on sight. But none get by our treasury experts. Their faculty, the result of years of study and handling of coins, in detecting a counterfeit is marvel lous. Them seem to know spurious coin by instinct, though 1t is really the result of training. Yet even these men, as kilful as they are, occasionally have doubts raised in their minds as to whether a coin is genuine or not. If suspicious, the coin is cut in half, or it is assayed here in the building, and it's cAetCL WtiSHI ttlu IlllCIlGSS uclGIIulIGu.
 Coins are now and then turned into the treasury upon the supposition that they are commercials, because they fail to give that peculiar clear ring of a genuine gold piece though they present otherwise the appearance of being gen. uine.
 This singular incongruity Is &C., counted for by the fact that the coin has a small blowhole in the interior of the metal or the flaw consists of crack or split near the edge. Experts know where to look for these imperfec- tions imperceptible to others, and with a powerful magnfying glass they are quickly made manifest.
 If the public will remember three cardinal points in determining the spu. rious from the genuine which are used by the treasury experts, it will be diff f1cult matter to pass off a counterfeit upon one who is accustomed to hand hng money. We call them the test of weight, diameter. and thickness
 "1t has been demonstrated that coun- terfeiters do not combine these three requisites with spurious metals. Bear this test in mind, note carefully the weight, ring, size, impress, milling and reeding, all of which requisites may be taken in with a glance, and one will aI- ways carry about with him a pretty good detector. "-Washington Star.