By: frank huppuch

frank huppuch — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 21:52:57 +0000

attn: ron guth, billions of silver coins were minted for china and other countries. this required an ongoing system of test strikes to ensure that the dies were working properly and that adjustments could be made on a continual basis. the test strikes were done using nickel coins which were much cheaper than silver yet suitable for the tests- therefore there was no need to remelt and restrike silves coins. nickel is magnetic and is often a by-product of silver mining. there was a long period when foreign buyers of chinese goods were required to convert their paper into silver bullion coinage before they could receive their merchandise- thus the british mints were very busy and very streamlined for their day. test strikes are an important part of coin history- and are by no means counterfeit. they are a “one in a million coin”. now that the price of nickel is rising so fast along with the fact that millions of chinese are just beginning to appreciate chinese numismatics will drive value “sky high”. please check the value of U.S. test strikes.

Comments on: PCGS to Display Chinese Coin Dies for Counterfeit Coins

By: frank huppuch