Year: 1878




latter figures subjects the holder to a
loss equivalent to the difference. This
decrease may occur by wear, or, as is
very often the case, through sundIy ne
farious processes, which, though not
properly counterfeiting, nevertheless be-
long TO that species of crime.


The operations are perhaps the most
dangerous to the community, because as
a rule the coin preserves its appearance,
is apparently genuine under the acid
test, and in fact, is genuine except in
weight. 1t is impossible, for example,
to tell whether a coin has been
sweated" or not withou weighing it,
and by sweating is meant the use of the
coin as the anode in the electro-plating
bath, the gold being extracted from it
and deposited on another surface. Of
course a uniform quantity is removed
from the entire surface, and the imprint
retains its original sharpness. As much
as two dollars worth OF gold is some
times taken from the double eagle 10
this way. A less scientific plan is one
too commonly adopted by conscienceless
Jewellers, who when they want little
gold, instead of buying the precious
metal, purchase q twenty dollar piece,
file off with dead smooth file. a suffi
cient quantity, reburnish the place, and
pass off the coin at full value. The most
extensive fraud perpetrated on gold
coinage is Splitting" The operator
uses finer saw to split the coin neatly
in two. Then he gouges the g)ld out e
the center until only q thin outside shell
is left, and substitutes a silver and plati
mum alloy for the metal thus abstractt d


The two parts are then joined will
gold solder, and the edge is remilled. III
this way gold to the value of SIS so ha
been taken from a single piece. The op
Grafton, however, generally destroy
| the ring or tone of the coin, leaving it
besides, either too light or too thick
Another swindle is to bore into tht
edges. The holes whence the gold il
taken are refilled with silver, covered
with gold solder, and the edges are neatly
| finished but the light weight reveals
the theft. From So to $3.50 worth o
gold has thus been taken from one coin
and the pieces of course have every ap
pearance of being genuine. Real coun
terfeits-that is, coin wholly spurious
/ because of base metal-are almost in
variably below weight. An exception
to this, however, exists in $5 piect
which is of the exact standard weight o.
129 grains. 1t is composed of an alloy
of gold and silver, and worth $2.7O tc
50 40. It's appearance and tone are ex.
cellent, but it is thicker than the
genuine coin, and hence may be detected
by the gauge. Still, it is one of the
most dangerous counterfeits in existence


A silver piece passes current so long a.
the imprint is not badly defaced OF
weight greatly reduced. A hole through
the coin condemns it. The low value oI
silver prevents any such proceedings a:
in the case of gold, as the amount which
could be safely distracted would not pay
for the trouble of doing it. Consequent
ly, all silver counterfeIts are true imita.
tions, and there is hardly date of dollar
half dollar or quarts which has not beer
copied with remarkable accuracy. The
counterfeiter either makes q mould in
plaster from the raw coin, and casts from
it, or he stamps his limitations in dies.
| As this last process is the same as in use
at the mints, the counterfeits thus pro-
duced are more difficult to detect
because, besides being more accurately
alloy receives brings it nearer to stand.
ard weight. A large number OF
counterfeit silver coins are made chiefly
of type metal. A very dangerous hall.
dollar is composed of silver, copper aud
zinc, and is worth about seventeen cents.
It is from seven to ten grains too light.
/ Spurious half-dollars have appeared
which constantly deceive bank tellers
and other experts, because they are of
full weight. They are made of COM
pound similar to German silver, and are
so we'll plated with genuine silver ,tha
the acid does not affect them. They are,
however, too thick, and the gauge, as
| usual, where the balance fails, shows the
fact. Counterfeits of the quarter-dollar,
though very plenty, are less dangerous
than those of larger pieces. They are
composed of antimopy, tin and lead, and
are both too light and too thick, although
they have a good ring. A peculiar COM
position has been employed, to which
powdered glass is added TO give clear
sound; but this is but clumsy expe~
dient, as the coin is far below proper
weight, fact easily appreciable by mere
handling.


1t i a difficult matter to lay down any
general rules for detecting counterfeit
coins, as it will be seen from the forego-
ing that the closest ocular inspection may
be wholly at fault In general the mill
ing on the edge of the counterfeit coin Is
always poorly executed as compared
with the genuine; but wear OF the latter
often renders the distinction difficult 10
draw. Another peint worth remember
ing is that absence of clear tone IN
coin is not necessarily proof OF its falsity,
because it may and does happen that
crack or flaw is made in the metal during
the rolling, and this, just as IN Deii,
will of course destroy the vibrations, ana
make the sound dull and hat.--l Sclenh-
fic American.