Some coins will stick to magnets, but not silver Trade Dollars.
The most common Trade Dollars are the 1874 CC (Carson City) and 1847 S (San Francisco), 1875 S, 1876 S, 1877 S, and 1878 S. [3] X Research source
Counterfeit coins are often made of silver washed over copper. These will weigh around 18 g (0. 63 oz).
On the front of the coin, Lady Liberty is sitting on stacked boxes, facing the viewer’s left. She has a sheaf of wheat near her back, she holds an olive branch out to the left over the sea, and she’s barefooted. The eagle’s neck should look full, its right wing (on your left) should be slightly higher than its left, and feathers should cover most of the legs. The eagle should also be looking to your right. Also, the eagle is holding 3 arrows in its right talon and an olive branch in its left.
In particular, look at details like the eagle’s feathers on the back of the coin or the stars around the rim on the front. [7] X Research source
Denticles aren’t used often anymore. Reeding, on the other hand, is still commonplace, and can be found on modern dimes and quarters.
This is why it’s best to buy coins in person, rather than online—you really need to touch the coin, inspect it up-close, and weigh it to know if it’s real.
Don’t let this be your only guide—if someone bought a counterfeit Trade Dollar thinking it was authentic, they may try to sell it for its actual market value, either knowingly or unknowingly.
On some counterfeits, the reverse image will be flipped upside-down. It might also be slightly tilted to one side or the other.
Also, carefully study the way the letters look on a verified Trade Dollar. Differences can be really subtle in a counterfeit coin, so you’ll need to be really familiar with the way it should look before you can spot whether it’s wrong.
If you don’t have a Trade Dollar, measure the coin—it should be 38. 1mm.
