How to Check the Authenticity of Silver Dollar Coins
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Coins high in silver content do not stick to magnets.Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images
Hold a magnet close to the coin. See if the coin draws to the magnet. Genuine silver dollars dated prior to 1970 are primarily silver and do not attract to magnets. - 2
Clean silver maintains its color even when aged and used.Thomas Northcut/Photodisc/Getty Images
Look for discoloration bleeding through to the surface of the coin. Fake coins are thinly coated with silver. Inspect for darker-colored metals wearing through silver platings. - 3
Many fakes have sloppy detailing.Creatas/Creatas/Getty Images
Inspect for details inherent to the coin's specific year and series. Look for correct art work, number placement, wording and edging. Weigh the coin to ascertain if it matches an authentic silver dollar. Check for crispness in details. - 4
Coins with no silver content have shorter rings.Comstock Images/Comstock/Getty Images
Take the coin to a reputable coin dealer. Ask an expert to inspect the overall appearance for authenticity. Ask the expert to conduct a ring test by tapping the coin or dropping it on a hard surface. Genuine silver dollars emit a distinct, longer ring that experts easily recognize.
