I've ordered a couple of 1899 replica Morgan Dollar coins from Amazon, and they've reached me just today. These are made somewhere in Hongkong and shipped worldwide from there. The designs in these coins are exactly like the original Morgans, with "copy" inscribed on the tail sides, so I'm legit. The edge milling and the weight are good, so these will be suitable for my purpose, i.e. sleights.

It's only that the product page described these as made of White Copper metal with worn out look. These are quite soft, but ARE MADE OF STEEL, I was sanguine after these got attracted to a magnet.

My query is simple. These coins lack the lustre of white metal, but being ferromagnetic these will be good for ditching with a magnet in my back pocket. Is this a good tradeoff? Can someone who possess this type of replica, let me know if these get rusted over time?

Have them silver plated, or learn how to do it yourself. Then use commonly available chemicals to tarnish them appropriately.

You got yourself a good bargain for what they are and for what you might want to do with them, magically speaking. They won't rust, that's the least of your worries. If they feel worn and sorta soft already, then that's a good thing. And actually, it don't much matter if they are stamped "copy" or not in what you're doing with them - I have both sorts and haven't been put on the FBI Most Wanted. And it sounds like they are good looking enough, so go with them as they are. I've personally never done nothing to any of the ones I have to enhance them -- there really was no need, unless you just need something to do.

All the ones I have are also attracted to a magnet, which is a great addition that's better than real Morgans IMHO, as you can certainly use a holdout with them, I do sometimes. Specs will not know the difference, and that you can do anything with the replicas (plus feromagnetic)) that you can do with the real Morgans, for much less money or care to them, to me is well worth it.

So yeah, you got a pretty good deal.

Yea Anytime you use Old Coins It's Not Like Most People Know what they are Anyway! I Don't think Any one would say
" hay These are not Real!" Even If they Do You can make a joke And Say " Hay You think I can afford real Ones"
:) So I would say Just go ahead And use Them!

Thanks for the replies magicwatcher, Marion and David !!

By the way, I just clicked a pic of the coins and shared it below.

Till today I used an Eisenhower 1972 dollar coin. Being an original piece, it is a bit on the heavier side, and the lustre is there. However, as far as design is concerned, I believe Morgans are real beauties

Click here to view attached image.

Avik, I have a bunch of these replicas which I use primarily for practice when I'm somewhere not too coin-friendly, eg. walking somewhere or taking a bus; if I drop or loose one it's not the end of the world! Also, they allow me to play with ideas such as softening coins myself, using blackening solutions, re-milling using a needle file, that sort of thing. This way I have a set of thinner, soft 'Morgans' with a nice dark patina, and a set untouched, thicker dollars.

Sounds like a good idea Carpetshark !! I have a 1921 George V British worn-out Half Crown which I use for some coin routines. It looks awesome, just that the edge milling is nearly smoothened out. Can you tell me more about the remilling thing you mentioned in your post ? This coin is 50% silver, the rest being Cu-Ni. Will your method work on this? I'm intrigued to know more about your ideas

I'll gladly share the little I know, just as long as you realize the chances of making a usable coin are nicely balanced with the likelihood of making a mess. I do nothing at all to my (new) silver coins (which are precious....my precious...), shells, etc. In short, if you can't afford to toss it away, better not dick with it!!

Ok, so having said that, just pm me with specific questions and I'll do what I can to help out. I've received so much wonderful advice from the guys here, I'm happy to get the chance to pay a little back.

Cheers

Avik, I am in the UK, and collect half crowns. I have over a hundred of them, some are mint uncirculated. If you are looking for a replacement, I a would be happy to sell a few to you. Alan.

Thanks Alan. I'll be dropping you a PM very shortly.

Ive been using my replicas for years now.
And they still look the same as when I bought them.
Todd

Have to agree with bowers here…Really no big deal using replicas.

Certainly, real Morgans have a real feel of silver to them, I suppose, but these replicas are the next best (and much cheaper) thing. It's really more so than not, what you can do with them, not what they are or aren't.

Specs will know no difference. I'm sure most folks here have both. I typically use a replica when I'm out and about. Less worry as to them, and same impact. Heck, I used to use a replica Bust dollar (1801) and people would sometime inspect it and just say "WOW!, that must be worth a lot of money."

It truly makes little difference, unless you make something big of it in your own mind. I'm just sayin', pretty much of which I've said here before, or something like that.

I have a set of four of Joe Mogar's Magical Morgans, which are replica, ferromagnetic Morgans. They look and feel right and work very well with his magnetic expanded shell and sliding shell!

Jim

I use Joe's as well.Very quality set with shell.
Todd

J-Mac or Bowers, the set you have from Joe M, am I correct in saying he charges about $650 for his replicas ? I ask because I've been drooling over the sets over on the Johnson site, which for a silver set of Morgans is under $500.

Nope. I think they were $10.00 each. Shells were more, naturally.

Jim

That's correct and the shell is 85.00 dollars.
You can buy the set for 125.00 dollars.
Todd

And if you want a nice silver set.
Roy Kuepper has a morgan set for 330.00 dollars
A soft morgan set for 384.00 dollars both with
4 matching coins.
Todd

The replicas are nice coins. They are a little lighter than the real ones. I bought the peace dollars from Amazon and people think they are real. They actually sent me more than what I ordered because they didn't have the dates I wanted.

Paul

Or you can go here:

http://www.govmint.com/2015-1-dollar-1-o......od6w4Avw

There is a "Sticky" on this very topic at the top of Nothing up my sleeve...

Please read, it may answer ALL of your questions.