The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-10-17
COINS THAT ARE BASE
Metals and Methods Used In
Making Counterfeits.

Mdkilly OVuiiltIlcitOs
HOW THEY MAY BE DETECTED
Spurious Coins Cannot Stand N,
Three Tests Of Weight, Diameter ans
Thickness--Gold Pieces That Ar,
Sweatsd, Plugged Or Filled.
The most dangerous counterfeits are
struck from die and are usually imi.
tations Of gold coins. Molds Of vari.
ous kinds are extensively used, but
counterfeits SO made are inferior to
those made with a die.
In counterfeits made from mold
lettering, milling and reeding are usu-
ally poor and weight defective. The
coins lack the sharp and clear cut ap-
pearance of genuine coin. Most coun-
terfeit silvee coins In circulation are
made from molds, as 1t Is an inexpen-
sive form Of counterfeiting Some fair
specimens have been produced in this
way, but usually they are much lighter
than the genuine and If OF required
weight differ In diameter or thickness.
Various metals are used by counter.
feiters, principally platinum, silver.
copper. brass, antimony, aluminium,
zinc, type metal, lead and their nu-
merous compositions.
Among the most dangerous counter
feits of gold coin are those Of a COM
position Of gold, silver and copper.
They are low grade gold, and the
acid test shows they lack the fineness
Of standard gold used by the United
States mint, which is 900 fine, or q. 10
carats. These counterfeits average
from 400 to 800 fine. Platinum coun-
terfeits are dangerous, as the metal
used gives required weight, and they
are heavily gold plated. When they
have been in circulation for time the
plating wears of, especially on the
edges.
The most dangerous counterfeit of
silver coin is made Of a composition OF
antim0ny and lead, the former metal
predominating. These counterfeits are
Of the dollar, have q fine appearance.
are heavily silver plated. with fair
ring, and, some are only slightly below
the standard weight.
Some pieces among the smaller coins
are made Of brass, struck from a die,
and when heavily plated are fair imi-
tations.. They lack required weight,
except in few instances. Counterfeits
OF type metal, lead md other compost
tons are much lighter than genuine.
Those having required weight are
much too thick.
Genuine coins Of all kinds, for the
sake of gain. are tampered with in va
rious ways. These operations are con-
fined almost exclusively to gold coins,
which are sweated, plugged and filed.
Sweating is removing portion Of
the gold from surface Of coin. The
process does not interfere with the
ring, and as the portion removed is gen.
orally slight the coin is left with q
very fair appearance, weight only be-
Ing defective. The principal methods
Of sweating are the acid bath, filing
the edges or reeding, the operator find
ing profit In the small quantities Of
gold removed from numerous pieces.
The average reduction in value Of
coins subjected to these processes ia
from one-twentieth to one-tenth.
Plugging is done by boring holes in
the coin, extracting the gold and filing
the cavity with a cheaper material. The
larger coins double eagles and eagles
twenty and ten dollar pieces)-
used for this purpose. The small
surface Of the plugging material
where it shows on the edge of the coin,
Is covered with gold and the reeding
retouched with file or machine.
The average loss In value to coins
treated In this way Is from one-eighth
to one-sixth. Coins Of this kind are
very dangerous. as they are perfect
In appearance, only the edges having
been tampered with.
Filling is most commonly done by |
saving the coin through from the edge
or reedfnR, removing the interior nor |
ton and replacing 1t with a cheap met
al Coins Of all denominations from |
quarter eagle to double eagle are sub |
jected to this process. When platinum |
b used to replace gold extracted the |
coin has same weight az genuine. BY |
this process coins lose four-fifths Of |
their value, as the original surfaces are |
left only Of paper thickness.
When edges have been covered with |
gold and reeding restored the coin has
The appearance OF being genuine, hay |
Ing correct size and weight and fair
ring. Sometimes the covering Of gold |
IN edges 10 80 thin that filing can be-
distinctly seen. When other and less
Dostly filing than platinum is used
coins are Of light weight and have a
bad ring. If Of correct weight they !
ire too thick.
Another method Of filling is saving
ne coin partly in two, from edge Of
,eedinQ IN nno side laavino a +btn |