Seated Dime Counterfeit

[steelheadwill]

Hi all,
Though not found today, I discovered this underweight and undersized 1886 seated
dime while filing away my recent silvers.
It shows finer detail than the other (1883), yet is smaller in diameter and thickness,
weighs only 1.5 grams, where the 1883 is correct weight at 2.5.
it lacks the wide rim on the 83, yet still shows a reeded edge.
This is what they mean by 'one thin dime'
Thought you might find this interesting, never saw a fake seated before...
Hoping to make some finds today! HH to everyone

 

[deano]

Re: Maybe another Counterfeit

Hmmmmmm, I've seen a fake Morgan, but never a Seated dime.

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

Re: Maybe another Counterfeit

Herbie - how does it read on your detector? As silver or much lower? I've found 3-4 fakes over the years, and all were pewter counterfeits which registered down in the nickel to pull tab range. Cool find! Bill

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Re: Maybe another Counterfeit

Interesting discovery Herbie!

I wonder if there's a collectors market for counterfeit coins?

Dave

 

[CRUSADER]

Re: Maybe another Counterfeit

Interesting discovery Herbie!

I wonder if there's a collectors market for counterfeit coins?

Dave

You should know, there is a collector for everything

 

[jewelerguy]

Re: Maybe another Counterfeit

strange but cool for sure

 

[JW15]

Re: Maybe another Counterfeit

Hmm..An interesting find! I would take it to a coin shop for professional advice to see what the verdict is. I've seen fake seated coins posted online and usually something is missing or added that shouldn't be there such as no liberty in the scroll or a reverse from a different year. Apparently many American counterfeit coins came out of China, either way keep nailing those finds Steel!

 

[Wallhangers]

Re: Maybe another Counterfeit

Hey Herbie, earlier this spring a friend was hunting with me and he found a capped bust half dime. I posted it on here and it was broken and bubbled and initially some thought it could have been a counterfeit. We ruled out counterfeit because on my SE it reads the same as the capped bust half dime I had found earlier. Like someone already said here, it should hit lower, like a nickle. Let me know what you find out.

 

[dave in iowa]

Re: Maybe another Counterfeit

A friend of mine found a counterfit , seated half and a counterfit barber dime in the same park last month , musta been a lot of them back in the day, i was told by a local coin dealer that back then sometimes the store owner would give fake ones in change and when the buyer came back days later , he would say you didnt get that from me

 

[steelheadwill]

Re: Maybe another Counterfeit

A friend of mine found a counterfit , seated half and a counterfit barber dime in the same park last month , musta been a lot of them back in the day, i was told by a local coin dealer that back then sometimes the store owner would give fake ones in change and when the buyer came back days later , he would say you didnt get that from me

Haha Dave, over all these years, not much has changed
"you didn't get that from me",
Will rescan the coins and post, (I can't recall the readings from when dug)
I'm thinking I'll get different readings because of the thickness, I am currently using a Safari, which isn't as good as the Etrac on it's numerics & tone.
Thanks All, Will update

 

[ModernMiner]

Re: Maybe another Counterfeit

Very interesting Herbie. You can see the diameter difference in your photos. Keep us posted.
-Dug-

 

[steelheadwill]

Re: Maybe another Counterfeit

Hi All,
I got readings for the 'thin' dime and another 1890s seated, Safari reads
36 for the thin, 38 for the control, same tone.
The thin is .6 mm, control is 1mm.
with a loupe I can see the lines on the shield and most letters on the liberty banner,
denticles are still clear on both sides, and reeding is intact.
Considering that it's a full gram underweight, and still has this much detail,
I'm convinced it is a Silver counterfeit.
The only 'mistake' I can see is the lack of the rim present on all seated dimes,
it also appears that the date is a much higher strike than the rest.
2.5 vs 1.5 grams is a 40% margin, I'd take that on a short term investment.
I'm very happy with this one, loved repros ever since I found my first, I've even bought a couple.
Thanks for all your comments! HH