Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-09-05

mum counterfeits are dangerous. az
the metals used gives required weight,
ana they are heavily gold plated.
Nhen they have been i'm circulation
Tor a time the plating wears off, espe-
elaIiy on the edges.
Inc most dangerous counterfeit Of
coln Is made of a composition of anti
mohy and lead, the former metals pre-
dominating. These counterfeits are
OF the dollar, have a fine appearance.
are heavily silver-plated, with fair
rms some are only slightly below
the standard weight.
some pieces among the mailer coins
are made of brass, struck from a die.
and when heavily plated are fair imi-
tatlohs. They lack required weight,
except in a few instances. Counter
let's OF type metal, lead and other
compositions are much lighter than
genuine; those having required weight
are much too thick.
Genuine coins of all kinds for the
FAKE OF gain are tempered with in va
flous ways. These operations are con-
fined almost exclusively to gold coins,
which are sweated. plugged and filed.
sweating Is removing a portion o.
the gold from the surface of the coin.
The process does not interfere with tho
ring md as the portion removed Is
generally slight the coin is left with
"a very fa1r appearance, weight only
being defective. The principal methods
OF sweating are the acid bath, filling
the edges or recding, the operator
hndlng a profit in the small quantities
OF gold removed from numerous
pieces. The average reduction in value
of coins subjected to these processes
Is from one-twentieth to ene-tenth.
Plugging is done by boring holes in
anIY1 aNfpuatfVn 4Ia rrAlI nKa Hf1fAr
the cavity with a cheaper material.
The larger coins-double eagles and
eagles $40 and $40 bieces)are used for
this purpose. Holes are bored into the
coin from the edge or reeding, the
gold extracted and the cavity filled
with a base metal. The small surface
of the plugging material. where 1t Is
shown on the edge of the coin, covered
with gold and 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, the edges
only having been tempered with.
Filling is most commonly done by
saving the coin through from the edge
or rceding, removing the interior por-
ton and replacing it with a cheap
metal. Coins of all denominations
from quarter eagieS TO dOuDle eagles
subject To this process. When plat
mum Is used to replace the gold cx-
tracted. the coin has the same weight
as genuine. By this process coins lose
fourhfths of their value, as the origi-
nal surfaces are left only of paper
thickness.
Another method of flling is saving
the coin partly in two, from edge 10
recdlng. on one side, leaving a thing
and thick portion. The thin side of
the coin is turned back and the gold
extracted from the center Of thicker
portion, The cavity is filled with base
meal and sides pressed back into orig
position an soldered or brazed to-
1t is difficult to give average
loss to coins treated In this manner, as
hardly any two seem to have the same
amount of gold taken from them.
For detecting counterfeit coin com
pare impress. size. weight. ring and
general appearance with the genuine
coin of same period and coinage. The
three tests of weight, diameter and
thickness should be applied, for it is
impossible for the counterfeit
Ia comply with these three tests with
out using genuine metal.