Mike Sargent is the Head Verifier at PCGS and is a leading expert on counterfeit detection. "Sarge" maintains a comprehensive database of known counterfeits and unfortunately is frequently adding new ones.

Today, we are looking at a decent-quality counterfeit 1795 Draped Bust silver dollar. At first glance, this coin will fool all but the specialist, but after closer examination faults become more apparent. It also helps to have a genuine coin of the same type and era for a side-by-side comparison. The coin weighs in at a very accurate 26.90 grams compared to the genuine coin weight of 26.86 grams; an ideal weight for an uncirculated coin is 26.96 grams.

As we start examining the coin, we find minor variances from a genuine piece. The edge is a sure giveaway when you have a genuine coin to compare it to. The edge of the counterfeit coin is way too sharp, almost appearing to be shaven flat. You will also notice how shallow the letters are inset into the coin and how uneven the letters are as they wrap around the coin.

At first glance, the coin also looks lightly cleaned or whizzed (a term used when a coin is mechanically cleaned leaving ridges on some of the high points, most noticeably on the edges of the lettering). The obverse letters of "LIBERTY" show evidence of this trait, possibly transferred from the original coin used to make this counterfeit die, because the fields of this counterfeit do not appear to have been whizzed.

The bases of the letters also show an excessive amount of bifurcation, which is the incomplete strike caused by lack of proper metal flow. If you look at the same letters on a genuine coin, you will see sharper bases and the letters look much more substantial, even though some bifurcation can appear on early dollars. There is also a depression on the upper half of the vertical bar on the "L." There is a small depression or tooling mark on star #6 at 10:00. The denticles at 2:30 and again at 3:30 have a patch of raised tooling lines and there is a depression in the right obverse field at about 3:00.

Just above Liberty's bust you will notice a sizable lint mark which is seldom seen on the early bust dollars, though they do occur occasionally. The reverse of this counterfeit has less remarkable counterfeit traits. The most noticeable flaw is the patch of three depressions located to the left of "OF" along with a small pinpoint depression at lower left of the "O."

The counterfeiter did a good job of making this coin look a lot older than it really is by adding a lightly corroded look and darkening areas around the coin. Remember to always check the edge first, because coins that have edge lettering of any kind are more difficult to accurately reproduce than coins with plain edges or reeded edges.