Customs: Fake coins from China seized By abclocal.go.com
| Thursday, April 21, 2011
April
21, 2011 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- Chicago Customs and Border Protection
intercepted a shipment of counterfeit coins from China last
week.
After noticing an irregularity in the X-ray of a heavy package
being sent to an Illinois residence, customs officials say
they discovered 361 coins that appeared to be U.S. Trade
Dollar coins with dates between 1873 and 1878. Analysis
of the coins revealed that they were made of brass with
a thin silver-plated coating.
According to a news release from U.S. Customs
and Border Protection, the original U.S. Trade Dollar coin
was minted from 1873 to 1878. Customs officials say some
of these coins can be sold for as much as $2,000.
According to officials, the recipient of
the shipment was intending to sell the fake coins online.
"Legitimate traders are being duped
into buying these coins believing they are genuine,"
said David Murphy, CBP Director of Field Operations in Chicago.
"We strongly recommend buyers or any consumers to be
aware and use caution when making these types of purchases
on the Internet."
Customs officers screen international mail
looking for any type of contraband, counterfeit or prohibited
items being shipped to the United States.