If you’re asking whether a 1799 Liberty coin is real or fake, it’s essential to understand that counterfeiting is a serious concern with valuable historical coins like the 1799 Draped Bust Silver Dollar.
Here’s how to determine the authenticity of a 1799 Liberty coin:
- Non-Magnetic Response: Genuine silver coins, including the 1799 Draped Bust Dollar, are not attracted to magnets. If your coin is magnetic, it’s likely a counterfeit.
- Weight and Diameter: The 1799 Draped Bust Dollar should weigh approximately 26.96 grams and have a diameter of around 39mm. Deviations from these measurements could indicate a fake.
- Edge: The edge of a genuine 1799 Draped Bust Dollar is lettered with the inscription “HUNDRED CENTS ONE DOLLAR OR UNIT”. Check for this detail, as counterfeiters may omit or inaccurately reproduce it.
- Surface Appearance and Detail Quality: Genuine coins from this era will show natural wear and tear consistent with circulation. Look for natural patina and crisp details in the design elements like the bust of Lady Liberty, stars, and lettering. Counterfeits may have an unnaturally uniform and bright appearance, or soft, less crisp details, according to JustAnswer.
- Die Varieties: There are 22 known die marriages for 1799 silver dollars. Familiarizing yourself with these die marriages can aid in verifying authenticity. Rare varieties like BB-151 and BB-154 can significantly increase a coin’s value.
- Professional Authentication and Grading: Due to the complexity of identifying genuine 1799 Draped Bust Dollars, it’s highly recommended to seek professional authentication and grading from a reputable third-party service like PCGS or NGC. These services will provide a definitive judgment on the coin’s authenticity, assign a precise condition grade, and identify specific varieties.
- Inconsistent Wear Patterns: If the wear on the coin seems unnaturally distributed or doesn’t align with typical circulation patterns for a coin of its age, it might be a fake, according to JustAnswer.
- “COPY” Marking: Modern reproductions should have a “COPY” mark, according to JustAnswer. The absence of this mark on a replica could indicate an attempt to deceive.
- Depressions: Authentically produced defects from a genuine coin (like contact marks, scratches, etc.) that are transferred to the dies used for counterfeits and appear as identical marks on the fakes are known as depressions. Spotting these identical markings is a good indication of a fake.
- Even sophisticated counterfeits can appear to have the correct weight and silver content. Therefore, relying on only one authentication method is not enough.
Ultimately, the most reliable way to determine if your 1799 Liberty coin is real or fake is to have it evaluated by a professional coin grading service or a knowledgeable numismatist.
How much is a 1799 Liberty coin worth today?
From my experience, 1799 Liberty Coin Value
According to the NGC Price Guide, as of August 2025, a Liberty Coin from 1799 in circulated condition is worth between $1085 and $14000. However, on the open market 1799 Silver Dollars in pristine, uncirculated condition sell for as much as $1080000.
How to tell if a Liberty silver dollar is real?
Good point! Magnet reactivity is one of the easiest answers for how to tell if a coin is real silver. Silver isn’t magnetic, so it won’t react when a magnet is pressed against it. Fake silver coins will be pulled closer to the magnet. The same is true with gold.
How to check if a coin is real or fake?
Thanks for asking. The color. Color is a unique characteristic of each coin. …
Brightness. This is obtained during minting and like color is a characteristic of each alloy.
Smoothness. Parts of the coin that are not engraved should be smooth, even and without porosity.
Wear and tear. …
Latent image. …
Microtext.