When did “COPY” begin to get stamped on counterfeits?

1madman

I saw this auction tonight and it got me wondering when the word copy began to get stamped on fakes? Is this a new thing from the 1980s/1990s onward, or did this happen well before that? Are there contemporary counterfeits from ages ago with the word copy on them that are valuable?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/286026886119

lilolme

Do not know if there is anything else. But...

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2004/03/03/04-4768/rules-and-regulations-under-the-hobby-protection-act

II. Background

On November 29, 1973, Congress passed the Hobby Protection Act (“Act”), 15 U.S.C. 2101-06. The Act requires manufacturers and importers of “imitation political items” [1] to mark “plainly and permanently” such items with the “calendar year” such items were manufactured. Id. at 2101(a). The Act also requires manufacturers and importers of “imitation numismatic items” [2] to mark “plainly and permanently” such items with the word “copy.” Id.at 2101(b). The Act further directs the Commission to promulgate regulations for determining the “manner and form” that imitation political items and imitation numismatic items are to be permanently marked with the calendar year of manufacture or the word “copy.” Id.at 2101(c) .

PerryHall

COPY is used on replica coins rather than on counterfeits. It comes down to intent and replicas aren't intended to fool collectors.

sellitstore

"Copy" is required by law to be used on both replicas and counterfeits. The law does not make the distinction that you are offering.

Contemporary counterfeits were used at the time of their circulation, as currency. Later counterfeits are copies of genuine coins and are replicas, too. They are not mutually exclusive.

BStrauss3

@lilolme nailed it.