About 80% of uncertified TRADE DOLLARS listed on Ebay are COUNTERFEIT. If you feel you must bid on these coins, look for the following problems:

1. If there is a mint mark: ie cc, look for its location. Compare the mintmark location to a known real trade dollar of the same date and mintmark ( you can usually find one at "www.coinfacts.com"

2. Make sure the date is correctly alligned. again compare to a known real one of the same date.

3. Make sure the rim is not too thick or too thin. again compare to a known real one of the same date.

4. If the surfaces of the coin look lightly pitted, do not bid.

5. If the picture is not clear, do not bid.

6. If the auction is private, or the sellers feedback is private, or the seller is from an Asian country, do not bid.

7. Buy CERTIFIED Trade Dollars from a known (real) Certification company ie PCI, PCGS, NCS, NGC, SEGS, ANACS, NTC, ICG and even ACG. All others are just sellers putting their coins in their own holders.