China - 7 Mace 2 Candareens Shensi Province [solved]

Hello everybody,
Yesterday I bought this coin at my Coinsclub in Gent. The dealer told me it's no forgery. Now I want to know if the man was right because it seems to be a rather rare piece of metal.

Weight 26.4gr,
diameter 38mm
and it realy looks like a silver coin.

Thanks in advance for your help
Bompajoe

Welcome to Numista!!
I know the sellers in Gent! Always be very carefully with them. I hope you did not pay too much for it.

Did you try some silvertests?
http://www.silvercoins.com/fake-silver-coins-14-ways-to-spot-counterfeits/
https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces5506.html
https://www.ngccoin.com/price-guide/world/china-provincial-shensi-province-dollar-km-pn5-1898-cuid-1054956-duid-1296235
I could not find the weight of your coin, but it seems ok
The details are good, the diameter is correct

Hello,

On first glance I would say "fake"- because if it's too good to be true....

The rim looks way too even for this type compared to real ones, and the denticles also look too uniform. This isn't 100% conclusive though.

Hello pejounet,
thanks for the silvertest link.
I have a rather strong magnet and the coin is non-magnetic. It also passed the bleach-test and ice-test.
I start to hope that maybe.
Best regards,
Marnix

The ping test is also very good.
Just compare the sound with coins that are silver

I'm with Cass on this one.
I'm no fan of the double rim on the reverse.
Overall, I don't think it's good.

Hi Bompajoe,

as mentioned in my PM, I rather go for copy/forgery given:

• General aspect of the coin
  
• Lettering and rosettes details
  
• Dragon design
  
• Rim
  

If it's the real coin (which I don't think), you have a nice piece given the story behind: patterns struck in Birmingham then sent to China with machinery but machinery lost on the way.

Last genuine pieces of this serie I've seen at auction (about 7-8 years ago) were sold for $40,000 for a 5-cent, $40,000 for a 20 cents and about $100,000 for a 50 cents.

Thanks everybody,
I think there are enough arguments to conclude that it's a coin for the bin.
Again: thanks,
Marnix

Marnix,
do not throw it in the bin...
I collect such forgeries.....