I want to learn about the counterfeit of coins. Where do I start?

faceglider

I am seeing a lot of talk about counterfeiting. Is there any recommended literature? I’m learning a bit on here. Sometimes I do not understand what is being discussed.

OldEastside

Welcome faceglider, type in counterfeit, fake, Chinese ect ect into the search feature here would be a good start, it should bring up decades of advice and detection tips.............warning it should be quite a lot of posts and replys

Steve

tyler267

The ANA offers a very good course on counterfeit detection at the summer seminar and at a number of large coin shows. I took it last year at the ANA show it was terrific.

BillJones

One fundamental thing to do is to get appearance of genuine coins firmly imprinted in your mind. That is the basis for much of counterfeit detection. If you specialize in only one or two series, that job will be easier. If you look at just about everything in the American series, the way I do, it gets a lot harder and takes longer. But I’ve studied and loved coins for more than 55 years, so that gave me a bit of a head start. Still I’m not saying that I have anywhere near to perfect at counterfeit detection. I’m not. Coin authentication is an on-going process. I don’t think that anyone will ever get it “perfect.”

faceglider

Thanks to all of you.

faceglider

I will respond once I get through the overwhelming information. Overwhelmed.

AUandAG

Start with your series (specialty) first. Get to know that like the back of your hand. Then progress as your collecting expands.

bob

faceglider

I’m not yet sure what to start with. I really want to explore the designers of the coins. I absolutely love Gaudens. Barber and Morgan. That era. The sun shining!

faceglider

I’m wanting to view a series from both the designer’s point of view and the contemporart person’s point of view. Then - hopefully - a decision will be made on what series will be chosen to collect.
But I need to learn a LOT.

I’ve been out of this long enough to have forgotten.

davewesen

For detection, there are ANA courses, books on specific series, videos, information on die characteristics for specific coins.

For how different things are 'made', I recommend 'Numismatic Forgery' by Charles Larson - I have no idea how accurate this is, but the author claims to have been a guard for Mark Hoffman who claims to have made a 1959 wheatback cent and numerous other coin forgeries, as well as early Mormon collectibles. Mark Hoffman was in jail for murder, not sure if still alive/free/what. A link to the first part of book follows...

https://books.google.com/books?id=AMdoy1Td8IAC&pg=PR2&lpg=PR2&dq=Chuck+Larson+prison+guard&source=web&ots=E3Rqt2G6Na&sig=IIE2uktSceL878JkQ9xtgYybCG0&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result#v=onepage&q&f=false

TurboSnail

I hate to say this, but I would recommend hand on experience as first step. Spend a few bucks on specimens of counterfeit off alibaba etc first, then get some cheap original raw coins to do the comparison. You may not become an expert instantly, but it will help you with better understanding of text books and flat images.

BryceM

I'm going to assume that you're asking about detecting counterfeits, not how to make them.......

In general, counterfeit detection is a huge topic that requires decades to master. The counterfeits range from laughable to virtually perfect copies of the real thing. It is almost certain that a few unrecognized counterfeits are hiding in the collections of some of us here, even in TPG slabs.

As others have said, being very familiar with genuine coins is the best place to start. Sometimes something just seems "off" and it gets your spidey-senses tingling. I'd recommend learning about counterfeiting techniques, methods, and materials. Also there is the huge problem of alterations to genuine mint products (added mint-marks, removed mint-marks, alteration of dates, etc).

It is impractical for the majority of collectors to become experts in authenticating all coins. At best, most of us have a working knowledge of one or two series. The most important service of third party graders (PCGS, NGC, ANACS, etc) is authentication. Grading is what we often focus on, but that's quite a bit easier in most cases.

Careful (absolutely careful) comparison between known genuine products and the coin in question is sometimes required. The position of a mintmark, the location of a leaf or arrow, the clarity of the dentils, or other seemingly trivial details will sometimes be the only "tell" of nefarious work.

I'm no expert, and I'm completely satisfied to let the TPGs do this part of the job for me.

Namvet69

I like the advice about learning about the fakes that will directly impact what you plan to collect. Otherwise, the breadth of the problem is beyond one person's brain power. So, first whatcha gonna collect? Now use the Google and bookmark everything you find about fakes. CU is the best forum for all numismatic knowledge and info. See you around. Peace Roy

faceglider

@BryceM said:
I'm going to assume that you're asking about detecting counterfeits, not how to make them.......

In general, counterfeit detection is a huge topic that requires decades to master. The counterfeits range from laughable to virtually perfect copies of the real thing. It is almost certain that a few unrecognized counterfeits are hiding in the collections of some of us here, even in TPG slabs.

As others have said, being very familiar with genuine coins is the best place to start. Sometimes something just seems "off" and it gets your spidey-senses tingling. I'd recommend learning about counterfeiting techniques, methods, and materials. Also there is the huge problem of alterations to genuine mint products (added mint-marks, removed mint-marks, alteration of dates, etc).

It is impractical for the majority of collectors to become experts in authenticating all coins. At best, most of us have a working knowledge of one or two series. The most important service of third party graders (PCGS, NGC, ANACS, etc) is authentication. Grading is what we often focus on, but that's quite a bit easier in most cases.

Careful (absolutely careful) comparison between known genuine products and the coin in question is sometimes required. The position of a mintmark, the location of a leaf or arrow, the clarity of the dentils, or other seemingly trivial details will sometimes be the only "tell" of nefarious work.

I'm no expert, and I'm completely satisfied to let the TPGs do this part of the job for me.

Thank you. I am going to take advice. As much as I’d like to understand counterfeiting, I don’t want to understand it to the point in which I have the mind of a counterfeiter. But I also want to do such a thing, as to understand it and expose it.

faceglider

If I do a type set, I have to all the way. Let’s say 1911. That means all types. All the gold types. All the silver ones. The commemoratives. Actually, that’d be fun to try. Digging it.

thefinn

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