Scary fake Morgan Dollar. What can you do? 

I hear the sound of hundreds of Sigmas going up for sale on Ebay.

Your eyes and ears are definitely the best way to tell a fake from a real coin. I’m kind of surprised it failed the tester though.

Ping test app on a smartphone. Easy to use in the field, at yard sale, etc. No damage to coin. Magnifier or cell camera app, looking for bubbles and casting flaws. Details like liberty on head, ...still cant be 100% sure.

The scammers continue to grow and get smarter, next they will sell 90% real silver coins that are "fake morgans" eventually evolving to just selling 100% legit coins for less premiums than others to "rip us off" while still making money... hahahah Now a morgan is one thing but the fake gold bars are a bit scarier using tungsten and thick real gold plating that will pass these machines...At least the Sigma...Ripping off the local coin shops can do MUCH damage...

I have a fake $2.50 pre33, imported from Europe I believe from the '50s. It is 90% gold and weight 0.01g more than it should, is 2mm wider than it should be yet comes up as 90% gold on the LCS's machine, passed the ping test by the dimensions it should be at (didn't pass at 18mm but did at 16mm) and it was sold to me as bullion, and online that day the melt of that coin was $218 and I paid $220! $2 over spot! It is soon to be jewelry so that it never circulates

Great video. The thickness is a huge red flag, you said that it was, but it really is. That was the determining factor for me. I’ve been there with calipers with Morgans, and the thickness doesn’t have much wiggle room to determine authenticity. The combination of the scale and the calipers is very accurate, but you kind of need some experience to know what you’re looking at. Then using your eyes is invaluable, that’s also a great test, on the fake you looked at the dentils gave it away. I enjoyed this video! The unfortunate fact is sometimes fakes are so good, you need to be obsessed with coins to determine authenticity. 🔥🦈🌊

I think I would try the Ping test first and then move on from that in the future.

Well informed video. Alarming to see how well counterfeits can be. I've noticed the ping test to be best testing method with not only the Morgan and Peace dollars, but also the ASE as well. These 3 coins are unmistakable in their tone. Most 999 and 9999 fine silver rounds do not have the sound that the other 3 produce

The same thing happened to me with a Peace Dollar recently. It passed the Sigma but failed the ping test.

Also fun fact you can get really accurate scales at a smoke shop... I searched for one all day and couldn't find one (even though walmarts app showed they had it) and the employee told me to walk next door and get a scale from the smoke shop

Interesting in the US it's a felony to counterfeit but in China you can buy handfuls of these in stores and they sell them as "movie props"

Thank you so much they have raised the prices of the tester from 1200 to 1900 in the last two month

Sigma is to check the metal not the real or fake aspect

For collector coins your eyes are your best tool. Thanks for showing us these!

Good job on information. Hay try this sometime take the coin and set it on its edge take a Earth magnet and slowly bring it towards a coin I’ve noticed on a fake right before the magnet gets to it will lean towards it just thought I would throw that out there

mannnnnn im glad I have what I have and I only am buying from trusted people. Another big thing is people taking slabs, cracking the coin out,taking the label and putting different coins it or just a fake one in a cheap slab so when you scan it, it comes up....either way its scary... Be careful people..., Either way thank you Speg for spreading the word and for all you do!

Great video Speg. Agreed, you can’t rely entirely on the Sigma. When I tested my EIC St. Helena 250g silver coin bar, Sigma results were in the yellow and slightly in the red. But testing with a GVS Bullion Tester, it passed (results confirmed with GVS in Austria as authentic). So absolutely need to have multiple testing methodologies to confirm your metal. I liked your point about head knowledge with visual confirmation. When it comes to old coins, it’s a must. Because I lack head acknowledge of old coins, I tend to stay away from them for fear of picking up fakes. My main focus is getting current year Maple bullion only (which has good anti-counterfeiting features) from reputable online dealers who source directly from the Royal Canadian Mint. This is my first line of defense against picking up fakes. 2nd line of defense is my Sigma and GVS machines to confirm authenticity. I’m 99.99% (four nines 😝) confident that my stack is genuine. Cheers.

I've been studying about identifying counterfeits especially with American coinage. PCGS has a youtube channel and they go over many ways to detect counterfeits but I've learned that there is always a mistake made by the counterfeiter in my studies. You have to know your coins. Nothing replaces the tools we have available but learning your coins is so important. Especially if you're investing a lot of money.

I love this channel bc you're so authentic and dorky.

Thanks Spegtacular

Great video sir. That is scary that the Verifier was fooled by the fakes. But, the Pocket pinger worked! Awesome

I could tell the real one at the very first part when the coins were first put on the sale. The sound is one of a kind.

Wow💯💯💯...big difference on the ping test💯💯💯

What is the motivation of the counterfeiters for this particular coin? They put a fair amount of silver in it, yet the 1884 Morgan in that condition is not worth enough for the effort. I can see this only for a numismatically expensive coin.

Great video…After many years of collecting, buying and selling I have gone by look(visual), feel,spin/ring test for circ dollars, and years of experience…..I do like your ring tester/ pocket pinger ….Keep up with the information …Thanks

I have 40 walking Liberty TOZ’s rounds that are not U. S. minted and require by Law to have (COPY) embossed on them as mine do and does not mean they are not .999+ silver as it means they are not numismatic coins because they are literally identical to numismatics that’s all.

Great video - for ping test you can also use a wooden cloths peg 😀

WOW Speg.... Did you test with the large Probe? It goes deeper in the coin surface...Waiting for your answer..

Thanks for the video. Not that I was going to, but I will never purchase that Sigma machine, what a waste!

Thank you for sharing this information.

Looks like the ping test and a trained ear never fails

A point Micrometer would be more suitable for an accurate thickness measurement.

The fact that it fooled all the tests except the ping test definitely tells us to get a ping tester thanks SpegTacular always good info and fun and well put together appreciate all the effort you put into helping us newbies and veteran stacking in the community

I really wonder how does the Sigma work. I expect some electromagnetic change, maybe some ultrasound reflection, but that is where I end. The electromagnetic would go deeper, but some alloys can behave the same. When I am unsure, I use the water dip, while hanging the coin on a piece of thin tape only at the edge. It does require some calculation but it is the safest method to find out the real volume of the coin. Measuring 5% or 10% difference in thickness is hard, especially with the "rough" surface of the coin. I've came across some coins that even had edge letterings in them. Ping was a bit dull and the water dip did its magic.

ALQUIMIA Always going to be happening. That what's going on n this video. Great video/info 👍

ATTENTION: I have the same fake Morgan and on the Sigma pro it fails the second test. Will make a video 🤓🤓🤓

It is truly amazing (and scary!) that we would get all the way down to the ping test to be sure it's real....add in a magnet slide and put the fake next to the real one for the ride down the magnets...

Wow! That's freaky.😮

I'm not buying them anyway. Too expensive.

Newest version of my xrf now over 30k and omg dont ever drop it. Cost of repair often over 6k

Can you do the test with a Sigma Metalytics Pro or Pro Mini? The difference is that your Sigma Original does the test only on the surface to a shallow depth, whereas the Pro and Pro Mini do the resistivity test all the way through the coin from top to bottom.

Good video with solid content. I have a light weight Morgan but it measured, magnet slid and pinged OK. Maybe I should pull it back out and take another look. The scary ones use real silver and laser engraved dies. The only thing that could save you is knowing the correct die pairs, which for me is way too much work.

Great video Speg!

Wow, it's getting like we're living in Blade Runner, the fakes are getting so sophisticated!

I didn't think the Sigma could be fooled thst easily. Based on the sigma test, I had assumed the fake had silver in it, but ping test seems to imply otherwise.

Denticles on obverse are way off and dot after E and Plurieus is way to big.

Fantastic information . As someone trying to get a good reputation established in the coin world , I think need this tool for a few things .

Important video. Thank you.

Best Video you made! also a clad quarter will test as 90% silver! Ron I

So the ping out preformed the sigma? Interesting. More reason to pay more attention to our purchases. Great video and thank you for sharing.

Good video thanks

My XRF would pick it up I bet.

Why do all these guys use the lower cost older Sigma machine? I have the more expensive full machine and I have little trouble verifying silver and gold coins. Everything I test I use the Sigma, a good scale and the ping test. No problems when using all. The Sigma he is using only test the surface while the full machine test deeper on the surface and all the way through.

Wow ping was way different.

Speg, another great video. I realize there are LOTS of fakes out the but what about planchets from centuries ago? Any experience or thought of the composition on those planchets? The trade dollar and it's odd composition made me think

Thank you for the video.

I measured my 1882 morgan and all was intolerance except for the ping test. So took it to my LCS to have it placed on their XRF precious metals varifier. And as suspected it is FAKE. I'm not too upset because I gained knowledge from the experience. Stacker Investor Preper family us all the tools available to test your metals. Have them with you if purchasing third party and/or pawn broker. Never doubt your ability of examining your purchases properly.

Wow, super fakes. great vid, thanks. you learn something new every day.

Wait a minute if it passes doesn't that mean it's still 90% silver? So what is it just a counterfeit but it's real silver? If that's the case then big deal you still have 26 grams of silver..... if it's not silver then what kind of metal is it that it can test as Silver be the same weight diameter and thickness as silver but not be am I missing something? Usually a fake can't be the same exact diameter thickness and weight because if it's a different alloy than silver it's a different density so usually something's off I'm confused about this one

Weight and dimensions are enough for all the silver fake alloys I have seen. 0,2-0,3 thicker is not a warn signal, it is a proof. Gold and Platinum are easy and 100% testable with simple tools (dimension/weight and for Gold additional the diamagnetic test). Don`t buy machines which do not work. The only machines which I recommend base on the speed of sound, because thats the only process which goes through the whole material.

Dude that's crazy! Failed the sigma like that. Very good video btw. Also those sigmas $1100+ now.

Who stamped it fake? I thought xrf guns read deeper into the test piece. 87% silver with a thick silver plating, I'd be cutting that one in half.

my grandfather use to collect Peace dollars and I have looked at peace dollars all my life essentially. my local pawn showed me a peace dollar that was such a good fake just looking at it by itself I would have been fooled as soon as I put a caliper to it it was too wide, the font and design was spot on, just remember coins are made to be exact so know your thickness, diameter, ad weight these cons are getting better. if your local shop doesn't have an education box just throw the idea at them, maybe they come across a fake a customer had, the customer may donate it to the box and it will help everyone.

Another problem is that you can't do a ping test on a stabbed coin..Stabbed coins are also faked in China. Hopefully, they won't be able to make perfect counterfeits of those. The problem with the Sigma Metalytics is that the counterfeiters could use the same metal content as Ike Dollars, since the Sigma reads 90% silver on the "Pre 1900 90% Ag" setting. You said the user is misusing the testing machine. But if the Morgan was made of the same metal as the Ike Dollar, then the Sigma would say its legit 90% Ag. That's scary.

Ping test seems simple but accurate.😯👍

Great video and shocking!! I thought the different year settings were for different tolerance levels that they expected the mints to get right back in the day? That is the permittivity coefficient of the alloyed metals were expected within a specific range. I’ve seen a couple peace dollars hit the yellow in the pre 1945 setting with my pro mini but pass all other test mentioned. They do pass in the 1900 with flying colors. I believe it’s just a tolerance level as with the pro mini you have a slightly wider range for the pre 1900 vs the pre 1945 with regards to resistivity/conductivity. That means they expect a smaller permittivity coefficient for 1945s vs pre 1900. Probably to allow for different silver alloy mixes. Most, if not all of my, Morgan’s pass on the pre 1945 setting.

Where should I appraise and sell my coin collection?

the modern quarters also show up between the brackets on the sigma

Maybe i havent gotten to the part of the video yet but.. How did the copy. Eat the machine??

Well, I'll just melt them all......

Any chance that it is a fake Morgan made out of REAL silver, hence the COPY mark. Just a thought to consider.

Two on right.

Do you know what's even harder? Testing bullion rounds. What any metals hoarder should know as fact is that it is not physically possible to fake silver in four modes within the typical test tolerances. Three are possible but do not make sense economically. Two are easy. That means testing three of the 'big five' physical properties of silver will suffice to rule out a counterfeit. At home, everyone should know to weigh their 1ozt. round to > 31.103g and test for a specific gravity of 10.4 - 10.7 (which is all the original Sigma Metalyzer does, BTW, and can be done with a cheap pocket scale). And the 'magnet test' where you run a rare earth magnet down the round to test inductance is great at ruling out everything except copper. Unfortunately, copper/lead and copper/tungsten are the most common alloys used by experienced counterfeiters. If you are skillful with your magnet testing, you can always rule out a copper/lead counterfeit, at least down to perhaps 10% composition. But copper/tungsten is a different story, particularly if the round is 50% silver, 50% copper/tungsten alloy (which is neither a new way nor a clever way to fake silver). This is one reason why high-relief, wide-circumference rounds and coins are desirable; it's much harder to form a thin core for a 50-50 round, and a high face relief forces that core to be thinner. The 'ping test' turns out to be extremely informative because it is based on quantum effects that are practically unique to the composition, alloy, and geometry. Unfortunately, you cannot control for geometry with bullion rounds--smaller coins will generally give you higher frequencies. But if you understand the science, the ping test can take you all the way home on ruling out counterfeits and bad silver. In particular, any good counterfeit will use a large amount of copper. But copper will introduce much higher-pitched, tinnier tones than you expect from any size of silver round, and tends to prolong resonance at higher frequencies, even if it's just alloyed in the core. If that's not enough for you, then you can always get a reference that has been shown to be pure by other means (such as with thermal or conductivity testing); then, you don't need anything but a set of working ears. That's the main advantage to mint standardization--any coin can be used as a reference for any other.

Thanks for this video Sepg! Very informative. I recently was fortunate enough to purchase a Sigma machine and I’m wondering if you’ve experienced the opposite problem where the machine shows a real coin outside the brackets. I have a 1989 1 oz silver Libertad that passed the eye, weight, and ping tests. The Sigma has it on the space just outside the right bracket. I do not believe it is the temperature or embossing on the coin. I believe it is legitimate but wanted to get your thoughts. Thanks again!

Numismatic huh?, 78% Silver, I'd stackum! Just buy generic rounds from a reputable seller!

I know if i was going to make a fake i would make them out of 90% silver and make perfect copies of the rarer coins, But then again who's to say China isn't already doing that

I'm confused. Aren't some morgan copies made out of actual silver?

Scary stuff

They weigh the same and are actually silver, the places that make them can replicate u.s.coins, they are required by law to put copy on the coin. They are 31.1 grams of 999 silver or 1oz. Many private mints all over this great country of ours, do this often with most the coins that come out of U.S. Mints. I've fakes are noticeable if you know how to test. Thank you for your time. Good day.

Great video. Is there a book you recommend with all the measurements to look out for in a coin?

Good information. I laughed when you said something about talking too much. I saw that in another video where it was really just saying the same thing over and over again. That's not you.

So the Sigma failed to detect the fake. 🤠

may the genuine always overcome the replica, it is an expensive anomaly, which has taken me, for what's that worth ^_* !! at least this is a valid point to show others, owning the real was hard enough already -_- ... but the hobby is present with this replica showing. (I dread at this point buying from the US mint.) Best Be, Greg B. thanks for your contributions to an old hobby ^_^ ///

The pocket pinger is such a great value, why wouldn’t you want two? Just saying…

The talking hands 😢

DANG THOSE FAKE COINS

Great video Speg! BTW, I saw nothing after the 8.03 million views...very nice Speg!!! I've checked out TubeBuddy in the past and it seems very beneficial but I always pass when you get to the screen that says they have complete control over your channel...makes me nervous.

What about gold bars are they tricking the sigma also.

Did you know that real silver will react slightly with a small magnet? Fakes slide down very fast where as a genuine coin, the magnet will move down the coin slowly. Just an fyi.

Possible mint mistake???💯💯💯

The only fake silver that I have had my hands on were fake Morgan silver dollars Hey from Canada

Can you tell what metal those counterfeits are made of?

Smelt the fakes since they show as 90%.

Just threw up in my mouth a little. Thats nutz. Gotta go check some tubes and sleeves now. Had no idea the redbook photos were actual size either. Learn something new everyday. Just used you code and bought the ping. Cool they also have fake sample coins including motgans and tenth age. Got those too just to see. Great video. 👊

Watched buddy

Are you sure about the copy being fake???💯💯💯

The fake Morgan registers as real because its actually REAL silver, right? Real silver, but fake Morgan? Or maybe the silver plating is too thick, preventing the Sigma from detecting the fake copper or tungsten core. Tungsten has an almost identical density to the previous silver.

After watching this video I wouldn't buy a sigma or a xrf machine because of its settings where you can put any denominations that has 40% silver. That tells me if they cannot perfect the imperfections they should not have made this machine.

Will not buy Morgan dollars anymore, fakes are too good.

Just buy from a reputable seller