Orlando FUN Show Survival Guide: Spotting Fake Morgans, Saints, and Key Dates

Dangerous Counterfeits Circulating: Know These Diagnostic Details Before Buying

As collectors polish their wish lists for Orlando’s FUN Show – dreaming of 1907 St. Gaudens High Relief masterpieces, elusive 1916 Standing Liberty Quarters, and storied Carson City Morgans – forgers are preparing their own “inventory.” Having handled over 10,000 US coins, I still catch my breath examining these American classics. Let me share the precise weight tolerances, die fingerprints, and magnetic responses that separate genuine numismatic treasures from increasingly sophisticated fakes preying on excited buyers.

Prime Targets for Collectors – And Counterfeiters

These five coins will spark intense bidding wars…and equally determined forgery efforts:

• 1907 Saint-Gaudens High Relief: The undisputed king of US gold (especially in MS63)
• 1916 Standing Liberty Quarter: That magical Full Head variety
• 1889-CC & 1893-CC Morgan Dollars: Legendary CC mintmarks with wild west provenance
• 1901-S Barber Quarter: The series’ notorious key date
• Proof Morgan Dollars: Beware “problem-free” specimens with unnatural luster

Weight Tolerances: Your First Defense

1907 Saint-Gaudens High Relief

This numismatic icon should feel perfectly dense in hand:
Authentic: 33.931g (90% gold/10% copper)
Dead Giveaway: Chinese copies often weigh 34.2-34.5g due to incorrect alloys. True examples never deviate beyond ±0.03g – invest in a 0.001g precision scale!

1916 Standing Liberty Quarter

That glorious Full Head demands scrutiny:
Authentic: 6.30g (90% silver/10% copper)
Warning Sign: Base metal fakes clock in at 5.8-6.1g. Silver-plated wolves in sheep’s clothing hit 6.30g – verify with the ping test!

1889-CC & 1893-CC Morgan Dollars

These Carson City legends have weighty expectations:
Authentic: 26.73g (90% silver/10% copper)
Red Flag: Cast fakes slump to 26.1-26.5g. Modern strikes using original dies hit weight but lack proper cartwheel luster.

Magnetic Properties: The Instant Reality Check

Slip an N52-grade rare-earth magnet in your show kit. None of these coins should exhibit even a whisper of attraction:

• 1907 Saint: Magnetism? You’re holding tungsten-plated brass
• SLQ/Barber: Any pull indicates a steel core beneath the surface
• Morgan Dollars: Authentic silver remains stoically non-magnetic

Pro Tip from the Vault: Slide suspect coins down an inclined neodymium magnet. Genuine silver/gold drifts like a feather; base metals race like dropped anchors.

Die Markers: Nature’s Anti-Counterfeit Measures

1916 Standing Liberty (Full Head)

Genuine coins reveal Hermon MacNeil’s artistry in three crisp details:

• Three razor-sharp skirt lines beneath Liberty’s right arm
• Parallel shield stripes maintaining military precision
• Individual wing feathers you could practically pluck

1893-CC Morgan Dollar

This wild west rarity demands you inspect:

• The CC mintmark’s asymmetrical serifs (left longer than right)
• Characteristic die crack from star 13 to rim on well-preserved examples
• Authentic doubling on wing feathers – not the flat “machine doubling” seen on fakes

1901-S Barber Quarter

Spot this key date’s truth in its microscopic DNA:

• Knife-edge denticles that could slice paper
• Berry clusters bursting with detail, never mushy
• The elusive Micro-S mintmark hovering precisely 0.8mm from the ribbon

Common Fakes & How to Gut-Punch Them

1907 Saint-Gaudens High Relief Forgeries

Type 1: Cast copies with orange-peel surfaces screaming “fake” under 10x
Type 2: Struck counterfeits showing weak radial lines where they should be bold
Killer Test: Authentic sun rays march relentlessly to the rim – fakes fade prematurely

Carson City Morgan Shenanigans

Variant A: Altered mintmarks (usually from common 1883-CC coins)
Variant B: Chinese strikes with plastic-looking “luster”
Smoking Gun: UV light exposes epoxy around altered mintmarks like spilled glue

Proof Morgan Imposters

Forgery 1: Polished business strikes with counterfeit cameos
Forgery 2: Re-edged coins pretending to have proof squared rims
Verification: Hunt for die polish lines in protected areas – fakes can’t replicate this

The Show Floor Authentication Playbook

When that dream coin lands in your palm, execute this battle-tested routine:

1. Weight Analysis: Triple-check with your portable scale
2. Surface Forensics: 10x loupe inspection for natural flow lines vs casting pits
3. Edge Intelligence: Count those reeds! (Saint: 134; SLQ: 119)
4. Ping Test: Let the CoinTester app analyze that silver song
5. Magnet Slide: The ultimate physics-based truth detector

Conclusion: Collect Boldly, Verify Ruthlessly

The 1907 High Relief Saint, Carson City Morgans, and 1916 Full Head Quarter aren’t just coins – they’re chapters in America’s story. Their numismatic value stems from both rarity and historical significance. By mastering their diagnostic fingerprints, you transform from casual collector to armed guardian of numismatic truth. Remember: When handling these $5,000+ legends, the $100 for instant PCGS/NGC verification isn’t an expense – it’s insurance for your passion. These coins survived a century; don’t let them meet their demise in your collection. Pack your scale, magnet, and this knowledge, and you’ll return home with authenticated treasures that’ll make future generations gasp with reverence.

Related Resources

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