1781: Last week a person was detected in Providence [RI] attempting to pass counterfeit dollars dated
1781-----They are of brass and plated with silver, in the same manner that buckles are done----- the
impression is faintly struck, and will not ring."19
1796: "The public ought to be on their guard how they take dollars of the date of 1796 and 1797, as
there is a large number of them in circulation, very handsomely plated, supposed to have been imported
this spring into the States from Birmingham and Sheffield, and in all probability may come into circulation
here: the milling on the pillar side is rather faint; and they may easily be discovered by sawing on the edge
with a knife, and turning it strong up, when the plate will rise."20
1797: refer to 1796
1799: "false Spanish dollars dated 1799, with a notch in the milling and with C and S in CAROLUS and
the G in GRATIS and the S in HISPAN all badly executed." The Green Mountain Patriot, March 3,
1802. 21
Photos of representative counterfeits are given at the end of this article(Figures 1 through 4), as well the
photograph of a contemporary coin weight for 8 reale pieces.
The counterfeiting of Spanish Milled Dollars proliferated through the Federal Period (1780-1820) but
began to wane as Spain lost control of her New world possessions. The Mexican dollar superceded the
Spanish dollar as the counterfeiters soon began copying the prevalent coin of the realm. However, as late
as the 1830's counterfeiters were still using the Spanish dollar as their model. Take the case of Charles
Hite. He was indicted "for making and passing off counterfeit money called 'Spanish' dollars in Scott
township on Nov. 10th 1833. For his trouble he was imprisoned and kept at hard labour in the Ohio
penitetiary for 3 years."22
In closing it should be noted that the counterfeiting of Spanish dollars exists even today. China is reputed
to be a major source for large amounts of counterfeit eight reales. Yes, “knockoff� collector coins!
These coins, I am told, are made using dental casts, are very deceptive, and usually copy certain lower
priced type coins that most people would incorporate into their collections.23 The beat goes on.
1781-----They are of brass and plated with silver, in the same manner that buckles are done----- the
impression is faintly struck, and will not ring."19
1796: "The public ought to be on their guard how they take dollars of the date of 1796 and 1797, as
there is a large number of them in circulation, very handsomely plated, supposed to have been imported
this spring into the States from Birmingham and Sheffield, and in all probability may come into circulation
here: the milling on the pillar side is rather faint; and they may easily be discovered by sawing on the edge
with a knife, and turning it strong up, when the plate will rise."20
1797: refer to 1796
1799: "false Spanish dollars dated 1799, with a notch in the milling and with C and S in CAROLUS and
the G in GRATIS and the S in HISPAN all badly executed." The Green Mountain Patriot, March 3,
1802. 21
Photos of representative counterfeits are given at the end of this article(Figures 1 through 4), as well the
photograph of a contemporary coin weight for 8 reale pieces.
The counterfeiting of Spanish Milled Dollars proliferated through the Federal Period (1780-1820) but
began to wane as Spain lost control of her New world possessions. The Mexican dollar superceded the
Spanish dollar as the counterfeiters soon began copying the prevalent coin of the realm. However, as late
as the 1830's counterfeiters were still using the Spanish dollar as their model. Take the case of Charles
Hite. He was indicted "for making and passing off counterfeit money called 'Spanish' dollars in Scott
township on Nov. 10th 1833. For his trouble he was imprisoned and kept at hard labour in the Ohio
penitetiary for 3 years."22
In closing it should be noted that the counterfeiting of Spanish dollars exists even today. China is reputed
to be a major source for large amounts of counterfeit eight reales. Yes, “knockoff� collector coins!
These coins, I am told, are made using dental casts, are very deceptive, and usually copy certain lower
priced type coins that most people would incorporate into their collections.23 The beat goes on.
| Counterfeit Spanish Milled Dollars |
Page 3
by Marc Mayhugh
Endnotes
1 Pradeau, Alberto; "Numismatic History of Mexico from the Precolombian epoch to 1823." With
annotations & revisions by Clyde Hubbard. Sanford Durst. 1978. p80.
2 Ibid; p80
3 Ibid; pp80-81
4 Apling, Henry; "Contemporary Forgeries: George III Silver;" Seaby's Coin and Medal Bulletin. No.
411, Vol. 1952, No.8, August 1952. p333.
5 Ackerman, J. Y.; "On the Forgeries of Public Money" IV, Read before the Numismatic Society.
April 27, 1843. A small pamphlet in the author's collection with no other date or information given. This
particular plate unfortunately has been removed.
6 Riddell, J.L.; "Monograph of the Silver Dollar: Good and Bad" Cinncinati, 1845 p8
7 Scott, Kenneth; "Counterfeiting in Colonial Rhode Island;" The Rhode Island Historical Society;
1960, p55.
8 Ibid. p59
9 Turcotte, Raymond, XRF testing performed at the 2002 C4 convention.
10 Scott, Kenneth; "Counterfeiting in Colonial Pennsylvania;" American Numismatic Society; NY,
1955, p71.
11 ibid; p71.
12 Scott; "Counterfeiting in Colonial Rhode Island;" Quoted from "The provincial Gazette," July 4th,
1767; pp52-53.
13 Glaser, Lynn; "Counterfeiting in America: The History of An American Way to Wealth;" Clarkson
N. Potter, 1968; p14.
14 Scott; "Pensylvania:" p88.
15 Scott; "Counterfeiting in Colonial New York;" The American Numismatic Society, NY; 1953, p132.
16 Ibid; p141.
17 Ibid; p144.
18 "The New Haven Gazette an Connecticut Magazine;" July 20, 1787.
19 "The Pennsylvania Packet and Daily Advertiser; July 30, 1789.
20 Faulkner, Chris: "Phantom Dollars in Upper Canada;" Canadian Numismatics: A Collection of
Papers on Canadian Historical Subjects: Montreal; 1999, p47.
21 Scott, Kenneth; "Counterfeiting in Early Vermont" as quoted from the Green Mountain Patriot;
Vermont history Journal; April, 1965.
22 "Brown County Ohio, Common Pleas Court Records"
23 Personal correspondence with Robert (Swamperbob) Gurney.
1 Pradeau, Alberto; "Numismatic History of Mexico from the Precolombian epoch to 1823." With
annotations & revisions by Clyde Hubbard. Sanford Durst. 1978. p80.
2 Ibid; p80
3 Ibid; pp80-81
4 Apling, Henry; "Contemporary Forgeries: George III Silver;" Seaby's Coin and Medal Bulletin. No.
411, Vol. 1952, No.8, August 1952. p333.
5 Ackerman, J. Y.; "On the Forgeries of Public Money" IV, Read before the Numismatic Society.
April 27, 1843. A small pamphlet in the author's collection with no other date or information given. This
particular plate unfortunately has been removed.
6 Riddell, J.L.; "Monograph of the Silver Dollar: Good and Bad" Cinncinati, 1845 p8
7 Scott, Kenneth; "Counterfeiting in Colonial Rhode Island;" The Rhode Island Historical Society;
1960, p55.
8 Ibid. p59
9 Turcotte, Raymond, XRF testing performed at the 2002 C4 convention.
10 Scott, Kenneth; "Counterfeiting in Colonial Pennsylvania;" American Numismatic Society; NY,
1955, p71.
11 ibid; p71.
12 Scott; "Counterfeiting in Colonial Rhode Island;" Quoted from "The provincial Gazette," July 4th,
1767; pp52-53.
13 Glaser, Lynn; "Counterfeiting in America: The History of An American Way to Wealth;" Clarkson
N. Potter, 1968; p14.
14 Scott; "Pensylvania:" p88.
15 Scott; "Counterfeiting in Colonial New York;" The American Numismatic Society, NY; 1953, p132.
16 Ibid; p141.
17 Ibid; p144.
18 "The New Haven Gazette an Connecticut Magazine;" July 20, 1787.
19 "The Pennsylvania Packet and Daily Advertiser; July 30, 1789.
20 Faulkner, Chris: "Phantom Dollars in Upper Canada;" Canadian Numismatics: A Collection of
Papers on Canadian Historical Subjects: Montreal; 1999, p47.
21 Scott, Kenneth; "Counterfeiting in Early Vermont" as quoted from the Green Mountain Patriot;
Vermont history Journal; April, 1965.
22 "Brown County Ohio, Common Pleas Court Records"
23 Personal correspondence with Robert (Swamperbob) Gurney.