Silver coin collectors...need help identifying this coin

[IronHammer]

I found this recently thinking it was the real deal but now I'm not so sure. It is very detailed, solid and sounds like silver. It weighs 22.24g. I can't find it anywhere online even using Google's image match software. Anybody recognize it? Is it real?

 

[indyjohn]

I wouldn't discount its authenticity right away. I did a Google search "1 oz silver Chinese New Year coin" and found many similar items, just not that particular one. You'll need to determine year and country of original minting. Good luck figuring out how to translate the characters on the coin.

 

[Wolfhound]

You probably already know this, but you could give it the magnet test. Not 100% fool proof as the scammers are finding ways around it now.

 

[IronHammer]

Yeah it passes the magnet test too. Looks, feels and sounds like silver. I just wish I could figure out where it's from. I'll probably end up asking on coin forum I belong to.

 

[snorko]

Yeah it passes the magnet test too. Looks, feels and sounds like silver. I just wish I could figure out where it's from. I'll probably end up asking on coin forum I belong to.

China? maybe too obvious of an answer but it is the Chinese zodiac and Chinese writing. Is it domed? looks perty.

 

[jerrob]

I found this recently thinking it was the real deal but now I'm not so sure. It is very detailed, solid and sounds like silver. It weighs 22.24g. I can't find it anywhere online even using Google's image match software. Anybody recognize it? Is it real?

View attachment 89655 View attachment 89656

Contact Lost Dutchman Coin shop in Indy.
If it can be identified, these guys can do it.
Make sure to call or email first, they're doing stuff by appointment only through the week.

 

[indyjohn]

China?

Not necessarily. I've never heard of Tuvalu, yet here we are. https://www.govmint.com/tuv-2020-1-...M70bP0w12wjasHt7gLT4wS9htiJuHQaoaAkGXEALw_wcB

 

[IronHammer]

Hmm. Finally found something extremely similar (same characters and styling) but some came by the page to note that it's silver placed alloy. Not looking good for me

Chinese Lunar Zodiac Colored 1 Oz Silver Coin - Year Of The Tiger

 

[Wolfhound]

Well, it's still a nice design. At one ounce your only out about 20 bucks at most.

 

[IronHammer]

Yeah good thing I'm not sitting on big pile of these. I just ready an article that chinese counterfeiters are pumping out tons and tons of counterfeit Morgan dollars and selling them online. Since the price of silver shot up we will see a lot more stuff like that.

 

[singlestacksig]

Tuvalu is a Pacific island nation that produces many silver coins for collectors. I believe they're actually made at the Perth mint. and backed as real currency by tuvalu. I have several from them they're pretty good quality. a lot of their stuff is single year production runs to keep their value high. they also do a lot of intellectual property like Disney and Star trek. but it still legal tender.

 

[singlestacksig]

it looks like the original poster photo is a round and not an actual coin.

 

[singlestacksig]

https://www.pinterest.ch/pin/511440101429920921/

 

[IronHammer]

Thanks for the insight singlestacksig but I doubt my coin/round is a Tuvalu product as it doesn't bear the image of Queen Elizabeth on it. I could be wrong though. It seems whoever produced them did an entire series of them for each sign of the chinese zodiac.

 

[singlestacksig]

Thanks for the insight singlestacksig but I doubt my coin/round is a Tuvalu product as it doesn't bear the image of Queen Elizabeth on it. I could be wrong though. It seems whoever produced them did an entire series of them for each sign of the chinese zodiac.

yeah, unfortunately I have only found that round on ebay or such sites.. chinamint may have a photo of it on their fake page.. it is definitely not a coin.

 

[Route 45]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Exquisite-...849111?hash=item2ac96ad897:g:ojIAAOSwD1pcJaLW

 

[Phase2]

At that price and based on the Ebay description, it is silver-plated only. The 1oz, Ag99.9 marking is misleading to the point of being fraudulent. Nice enough looking as a token.

 

[IronHammer]

Yeah definitely misleading. Ag 99.9 should not appear on this thing. Lesson learned I guess. Good thing I only bought the one.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

New Year's gift. Usually given to kids in the lucky red packets (hongbu), along with money.

Kind of thing given to children of friends at New Year's celebrations.

Money is not deemed an impersonal gift and is seen to represent "luck/good fortune" for the new year. Martial arts teachers give out tokens like this at New Years.

Things you DO NOT give: necklaces, clocks, anything white, or a green hat to a male (many other no gos for Chinese New Year, check with INGO's Cobber).

 

[KittySlayer]

Kind of thing given to children of friends...

Well there's your clue. It's a Challenge Coin given out by Epstein to frequent flyers on the Lolita Express.