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Old way to "camouflage" a counterfeit coin

I have not seen this in a very long time. Decades ago, fakers would put black shoe polish or paint into the recesses of there counterfeit to hide the granular surface and make the coin look old.
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Another thing to watch out for. Some of us younger guys haven't seen the old time tricks yet, good to have this info!
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Old school - back when people actually polished their shoes, or paid someone to do it for them.
The Chinese are still doing it on their fake Morgans.
bob
Have an example? I have not seen one yet.
@Insider2 Can you show the entire coin along with your microscope pic?
Does it smell like shoe polish?
Here is an example off of Alibaba.com (searched "Morgan dollar" in the search bar)
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@Insider2 ....You should be writing a book on all the various methods and tricks used to scam collectors....I am sure the collector community would make it a best seller....Cheers, RickO
Thanks. Not the same.
Thanks. Not the same.
There is a difference between darkening a coin with chemicals and putting some form of thick, black goop on it.
No, this is more like a hard paint that flakes off.
Nope. Sorry.
I have been trying to do this since 1976! Much of the "new" knowledge is now common place but there are still "new" things to be revealed. It is hard and time consuming to write a book. Finally, about thirty years ago, I started writing columns for Numismatic News as a way to put things on paper. One day you may be able to buy a copy of:
DELETE. Decided not to reveal the title as at least one author published a book based on my Summer Seminar Class! The next time he saw me he handed me a copy of HIS WORK! LOL.
I will recommend a very good book that with just a few changes I could have written: The Art and Science of Grading Coins: Jason Poe.
As for authentication. There are several around but none of them come close to the quality/presentation of the grading guide above.
The Chinese have become pretty good with adding "environmental damage" to new early copper counterfeits but I have not seen black shoe polish or paint yet!
Tagging @physicsfan314 , as he wrote the book you mention.
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Thanks, but not the same alteration. I'll pull some examples out of my C/F collection when i get the time.
Ooops. I assume darkened is darkened, maybe not with shoe polish though.
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These are hard, reflective, "thick" black coatings on two cast fakes.
@Insider2 ....Get busy on your book.....stop procrastinating dude....
Cheers, RickO
I was simply adding a before and after pictures of Fake Morgan that a dear friend had given me to learn and detect fakes. Some buy Fake China coins to alter and sell to new collectors. Shoe polish no fake yes. Anyone in that arena is not a coin collector they are just degenerates and harm the market and future value of coins for all collectors. If you want to collect Morgan’s it’s a good idea to see fakes and study so you don’t get ripped off. Great discussion and topic.
Kathy
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