The Savannah morning news., 1900-08-11
COUNTERFEIT COINS.
Director Roberts of the Mint Talks
Interestingly About Them.
From the Washin oton Star

interestingly ABOUT Ihem.
From the Washington Star
1T is not always easy to detect coun-
terfeits of gold and silver coins" said Di-
rector of the Mint Roberts, especially
where they are of good weight and extra
fine finish, and the peculiar slippery sur
face by which many counterfeits may be
detected is absent.
The pubic, in their haste in the ex-
change of money should find time to scru-
tinize with care each coin as it is handled
There is always much counterfeit coin in
circulation; TO more now. perhaps, then
in previous years. The Secret Service
agents have been especially active re-
Gently, and their efforts have been pro-
ductive of the most gratifying success in
detecting counterfeiters and securing con-
vctions.
Our presses at the minis are extremely
heavy weighing 1900 pounds. Naturally
a piece of gold or silver struck from their
dies is as nearly perfect as it is possible
to make a coin. Yet counterfeiters, with
their light presses and dies. manage to
do some very clever work. The product of
mouds, a favorte method with the
smaller fry of counterfeiters is inferior
to that of the dies. The absence of the
clear-cut appearance of the genuine coin,
the defective weight, the imperfect letter
ing and milling and the indistinct reading
on the outer edge of the coin are the dis
tinguishing characteristics which will
guide the public in detecting coins thus
made. Italians are the greatest Offend
ers against the law with mould-mad
counterfeits. The most expert turner's
out of metal counterfeits have been regu-
lar makers of dies who wanted to get rich
quickly.
The standard of gold made by our
mints is 800 fine. or q 10 kara,s. The Eng
lish standard is 9l6 fine. A nav $50 coun.
terfeit is probably a composition of gold
copper and silver, the gold being of low
grade. ! have, however, known of coun-
terfeits which were 80 fine. and they
range down to 400. The fac SMILES ere
often quite perfect, with a clearing, and
sharp, wtll-appeaIing lettering and mill
irg being well calculated to deceive those
who are not used TO the handling of
coins.
"Counterfeit gold coins may be executed
with such exquisite precis on that they
will PASS mus err under the eyes of bank
tellers and others used to the handling
OF coins, though the average 4 eller gener-
all detects a spurious coin on sight. But
none get by our treasury experts. Their
faculty. the result of years or study ana
handling of coins, in detecting a counter
felt is marvellous They seem to know a
spurious coin by Instinct, though it is real
" the result If training. Yet even these
men. as skillful as they are, occasionally
have doubts raised in their minds as 10
whether a coin is genuine or not II sus-
ncous the coin Is cut in half. or IL s
assaved here in the building, and it's ex-
act weight and fineness are determined
Coins are now and then turned into
,be treasury upon tho supposition that
they are counterfeits, because they fail
10 Give that peculiar clear ring Of a gem
line gold piece, though they present 9TH
a-,,,iee the appearance of being genuine
1-his singular incongruity is accounted for
H., tho fact that the coin has a small
tiowhole in the interior Of the metal. or
~ aaw consists Of crack or split near
~ eaea. Exrerts know where TO look
81 trese imp srfections imperceptibe to
- and with a powerful magnify
~, glass they are quickly made mani
fest. .s..,,... 49,. o,.
LII noints in determining the spurious
80 she genuine, and which arc used by
49,, treasury experts. Il will be difficult
e,,or 10 pass or q counterfeit upon one
~ a. accustomed 10 handling money.
W. call them the test OF weight diane
Ter ana thickness.
Ut has been demonstrated that counter
eoiters do not combine these three requl-
Ives with spurious metals. one or tho
other, or oil, are sufficient. Bear this