The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1907-11-06
CONS THAT ARE BASE
Metals and Methods Used In
Making Counterfeits.
HOW THEY MAY BE DETECTED
Spurious Coins Cannot Stand the
Three Tests Of Weight, Diameter and
ThieLness-GoId Pieces That Are
Sweated, Plugged or Filled.


The most dangerous counterfelts are
struck from die and are usually imi-
tations of gold coins. Mods of vari-
GUS 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 APP
pearance of genuine coin. Most coun-
terfeit silver coins in circulation are
made from molds, as it is an inexpen-
sive form of coupterfeiting. 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 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 21.l1
carats. These counterfeits average
from 400 to 800 fine. Platinum couu-
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
anthony and lead, the former metal
predominating. These counterfeits are
Of the dollar, have 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 die,
and when heavily plated are fair iml-
tations. They lack required weight,
except in few instances. Counterleid.
Of type metal, lead and 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 tempered with in va
rious ways. These operations are con-
fined almost exclusively to gold coi:Is.
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 a
very fair appearance, weight only be-
ing defective. The principal methods
of sweating are the acid bath. filing
the edges or reedlng, the operator find
ing a profit in tire small quantities Of
gold removed from numerous pieces.
The average reduction in value Of
coins subjected to these processes is
from one-twentieth to one-tenth.
Plugging is done by boring holes in
the coin, extracting the gold and filling
the cavity with cheaper material. The
larger coins-dOuble eagles and eagles
twenty and ten dollar pieces)-are
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 a 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 tempered with.
Filling Is most commonly done by
saving the coin through from the edge
or reedng, removing the interior por.
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
is used to replace gold extracted the
coin has same weight as 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, hav.
ing correct size and weight and a fair
ring. Sometimes the covering of gold
on edges is so thin that filling can be
distinctly seen. When other and less
costly filling than platinum is used
coins are Of light weight and have q
bad ring. If of correct weight they
are too thick.
Another method of filling is saving
the coin partly in two, from edge Of
reeding, on one side. leaving thir
and thick portion. The thin side OF
the coin Is turned back and the gold
extracted from center OF thicker por
ton. The cavity is filled with bass
metal and sides pressed back into orig
inal position and soldered or brazet
together. 1t is difficult to give aver
age loss to coins treated In this man
ner, as hardly any two seen have tn,
same amount OF gold taken from them
For detecting counterfeit coin com
pare impress, size, weight, ring ant
general appearance with genuine coil
of same period and coinage. The thre'
tests Of weight, diameter and thick