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How to Spot Fake Silver Dollars

American silver dollars are very popular collector coins. There are many genuine silver dollars on the market, but unfortunately, due to their popularity, there are also many fakes available. During the heyday of the silver dollar, many counterfeits were minted in China, and even some reputable dealers were duped into buying fake coins. With a little know-how, however, you should be able to tell the difference between a genuine silver dollar and most fakes.

Instructions

- 1
  Find a version of the coin in question that you know is not fake. If you plan on hunting for these coins at coin shows, flea markets, or estate sales, first buy an authentic specimen from a trusted coin dealer. This way you can have the authentic coin on hand to compare it to potential fakes when dealing with less reputable or well-known sources.
- 2
  Take a good look at the coin in question. If there seems to be something off about it that you can't quite put your finger on, it may be a fake. Sometimes counterfeit coins have authentic details, but just have an overall look that isn't right. You may not be able to spot the specific differences, but just have a bad feeling about the coin. If this is the case, move on.
- 3
  Look closely at the lettering and the numbers on the coin and compare it to the authentic silver dollar that you have brought with you. The numbers on fake coins are often in a slightly different font than on a real silver dollar. The lettering also often appears to be slightly thicker on fake coins.
- 4
  Look carefully at the stars on the coin and compare to your authentic silver dollar. On both the Morgan and Trade silver dollars, the stars will seem flatter on the fake versions. The stars on a fake Morgan dollar will also be slightly larger.
- 5
  Examine the sharpness of the images on the coin. If they appear to be soft or fuzzy the dollar is likely a fake.
- 6
  Compare the weight of the coin in question with your authentic silver dollar. Fakes are often not made of real silver and will be lighter than the genuine article. Counterfeiters also often skip the process of silver-plating the coins, so if the coin you're looking at does not have a signature silver sheen, it is probably fake.
- 7
  Look at the edging of the coin. If your authentic coin has a different kind of edging or reeding on the edges of the coin, the coin you are comparing it to is probably a fake.
- 8
  Hold the coin on the tip of your finger and tap it with another coin. This is called a "ring test." If the coin is real silver, a distinctive ring will sound out. Be sure to do this carefully and only with the permission of the person selling the coin.

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