The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-06-16
COUNTERFEIT COINS.
How They Are Made and How They
 Can Be Detected.

From the Counterfeit Detector.
 Various metals are used by counter felters. principally platinum, silver, cop per brass, antimony, aluminium, zinc, type metals, lead and their numerous compositions.
 Among the most dangerous commercials of gold coin are those of a composition of gold silver and copper. They are a 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 2L19 carats. These counter fets average from 400 to 800 fine. Plati- mum commercials are dangerous, the metal used gives required weight. and they are heavily gold plated. men they have been in circulation for a time the plating wears off. especially on the edges.
 The most dangerous counterfeit of silver coin is made of a composition of antimony and lead, the former metal predominating. These commercials are of the dollar. have a fine appearance, are heavily silver plat ed. with fair ring; 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 limitations They lack required weight except in few instances counterfeit of type metal. lead and other compositions much 1 lighter than genuine; those having re- quired weight arc much 100 thick.
 Genuine coins of all kinds. for the sake of gain tempered with In various
 ways. These operations are confined al | most exclusively to gold coins, which are sweated, plugged and filled.
 Sweating is removing a portion of the ! gold from surface of coin. The process does not interfere with the ring, and as
 portion removed is generally slight, tho
 coin is left with very fair appearance,
 weight only being defective. The princi- hf.du of ara apt
 bath, filling the edges or reedng, the operator finding a profit in the small uuan- i titles of gold removed from numerous pieces The average reduction in value
 of coins subjected 10 these processes is | from one-twentleth to one-tenth. i Plugging is done by boring holes in the coin. extracting the gold and filing cav ! ity with a cheaper material. The larger
 coins-double cages and eagles ($20 and
 s10 pieces) are used for this purpose.
 Holes are bored into the coin from the
 edge or reeding the gold extracted, and | the cavity filled with base metal. The
 small surface of the plugging material.
 where 1t shows the elge of the coin, 1 is covered with gold and reeding re- : touched with file machine. Tho ] average loss in value to coins treated | In this way is from one-eighth to one
 sixth. Coins of this kind are very dan gerous, as they are perfect in appear
 ance the edges only having been tam
 pered with.
 Fflling Is most commonly done by saw
 ing the coin through from the edge or
 rccding, removing the interior portion
 and replacing 1t with a cheap metal.
 Coins of all denominations. from quarter
 eagle to double eagle, subject to this
 process. When platinum Is used to re-
 place gold extracted the coin has same
 weight as genuine. By this process coins
 lose four-hfths of their value, as the
 original surfaces are left only of paper
 thickness
 When edges have been covered with l gold and reeding restored the coin has the appearance of being genuine. having
 correct size and weight and 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 bad ring. If of cor-'
 rect weight they are too thick.
 Another method of filling is saving ths
 coin partly in two. from edge of reeding. 1 on one side leaving a thin and thick portion. The thin side of the coin is i turned back and the gold extracted from , the center of thicker portion. The cavity f, Is filled with base metal and sides pressed back into original position and soldered i or brazed together. It Is difficult to give i average loss to coins treated in this man ner. as hardly any two seem to have 1 game amount of gold taken from them.
 For detecting counterfeit coin compare 1 impress size, weight. ring, and general appearance with genuine coin of same i period and coinage The three tests ot i weight diameter. and thickness should
 be applied. for 1t is almost impossible for the counterfeiter to comply with these l three tests without using genuine metal.