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How to Determine if an 1875 Coin Is Counterfeit

Old coins, especially those that could potentially be of great value, have been frequently counterfeited. The higher the potential value of a collectible coin, the greater the likelihood there are counterfeits on the market. Learning a few telltale signs of counterfeit coins will help you determine the value of your coin, and whether a coin you'd like to buy is real. Coins from 1875 have been counterfeited, but with a little skill and research you will be able to tell which are real and which are not.

Things You'll Need

Magnifying glass
Reference photos of a genuine1875 coin

Instructions

- 1
  Examine the coin's features closely with your magnifying glass. Is the figure on the coin clear and cleanly struck? If it appears non-uniform or unnatural, it is most likely a counterfeit coin.
- 2
  Examine the strike details on the coin. Is the artwork centered properly on the coin? If not, it is either an "error" coin or a counterfeit. Coin collectors are well aware of collectible "error" coins and these are well documented. If your coin's details seem off center and there are no mentions online or in books of other 1875 coins of your coin's denomination, your coin is most likely counterfeit.
- 3
  Examine the metal closely. If you see another color showing through beneath scratches or ridges, the coin is certainly fake. Coins from 1875 were made of a singular metal source rather than layered metal like today's coins.
- 4
  Compare your coin to reference photos (or known genuine coins) of the same denomination. Do the details match exactly? Some coins, for instance the 1875 trade dollar, had more than one variation for the front and back artwork. Compare your photos exactly to those in reference books to make sure your coin isn't fake. Sometimes the detail changes are slight. For instance, the end of a trade dollar ribbon pointing left on one version, right on another. Counterfeiters have not always managed to reproduce the proper front and back combinations.
- 5
  Examine the date and mint mark on your coin. If they look clean and neat, the coin may be real. If they look unclear when compared to the rest of the coin's details, or if there are scratch marks around the date or proof stamp, the coin may be a real antique coin that has an altered date. Counterfeiters sometimes change the date or mint mark to make a coin seem more valuable.

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