McCoy did not make ''Weeping Gold.''

If a piece of gold plated pottery is stamped ''Weeping Gold,'' it is not McCoy. McCoy''s line was called ''Sunburst Gold,'' and was not stamped with a line name of any sort. The stamp you will find most often (besides the obvious McCoy mark), however, is ''24K gold'' or ''Gold 24K.'' Most all gold overlay McCoy pieces bore that stamp; serious washing will remove those stamps, but not without damaging the rest of the finish. The actual ''McCoy'' mark (or Mc Coy as some people like to call it) is the best clue (wink, wink). ;)

Sunburst Gold is a hit and miss combination of shiny and dull gold. It resembles the way oil floats on water. Bubbling is present; random patterns are present; it's thicker in some places than in others. Very pretty. Weeping gold is thinner, runny-looking, with teardrop formations (thus the name ''weeping''). If someone is selling gold-plated pottery and they label it ''Weeping Gold'' ask what is stamped on the bottom of the piece before committing to buy it.