Can you use the same method to find out of a gold coin is geniune in the US with a gold sovereign or

GoldCoinLover · May 15, 2004 6:50AM

I've read a few books on counterfeit detection on coins, including gold US coins. However, I do not know if great britian used/still uses the same methods of manufacturing their gold as the US. Is it possilbe to still use the same methods to find out if a coin is geniune for a US gold coin on a great britian gold coin? (For example, a sovereign?)

Here are some of the things a counterfeit US gold coin should have, (there may be others). Therefore, a geniune gold coin should not have any of these:
1. Slippery feel
2. Uneven edge. ("Third side of coin")
3. Depressions
4. Lumps
5. Tooling marks associated with the counterfeiter trying to remove their own mistakes
6. Unnatural luster
7. Lettering is not sharp, details not sharp. Weaker strike than geniune coin.
8. Grainy texture
9. Discoloration

Thanks for the help.

tbirde56 · May 15, 2004 7:34AM

I can only offer 2 suggestions:
1. Buy another one to compare it against.
2. Find another coin to talk about.

GoldCoinLover · May 15, 2004 7:52AM

<< Find another coin to talk about. >>

I can't afford to buy another. I'm simply asking for advice about counterfeits, I'm trying to learn all about them. I'm disappointed you have to resort to such remarks.

tbirde56 · May 15, 2004 8:15AM

Gee, it was an honest straight forward 'remark'.
I can't offer any new knowlege on counterfeit detection than has already been given in previous threads. So having another to compare against is a logical next step.
And I would bet if you ran a poll the unanimous opinion of the forum membership would like to see you ask about ANY coin other than your famous sovereign. This, truly, is only an honest comment and not offered as ridicule or insult.

spoon · May 15, 2004 8:18AM

Actually, I think Brad makes a very good point. You seem like a newbie to coin collecting in general, not just a newbie when it comes to sovereigns (correct?). I think, and this would be my advice to everyone, you should start small and broad. Go for cheap coins, the darkside has these in abundance.. cheap coins because the hard lessons you're sure to endure will be a lot less painful. But also be broad when beginning in order to give yourself a maximum exposure to all the coins out there. This isn't just for the sake of being a diverse, rather it helps you gain a familiarity with coins in the most general sense. When you have a broad expanse of coins to view and study you will quickly learn to spot the differences.. the differences in how they're made, how they wear, how they're forged, etc.

Being specialized is great, but if you're a total newbie it can be like jumping into particle physics without an understanding of basic arithmatic.

GoldCoinLover · May 15, 2004 8:20AM

I see.

BurritoGrande · May 15, 2004 8:36AM

Do you still think the sovereign is counterfeit? Why don't you take it to a coin dealer near you and see what they have to say.

It is highly unlikely that it is counterfeit, anyway. Even if it were counterfeit (which it's not), it's still made of gold and worth about the same as a sovereign, so don't worry about it

spoon · May 15, 2004 8:44AM

Another thing: If you're undeniably interested in sovereigns and counterfeits, you could always seek out a known counterfeit for a reasonable price. Believe it or not, there are people who academically specialize in counterfeits.

GoldCoinLover · May 15, 2004 1:02PM

Folks, PLEASE understand. This thread IS NOT about the sovereign. I wanted to know if it is ok to use the same methods of counterfeit detection that you use from US gold coins, to british gold coins.

Since they are minted differently, I am not sure if those 9 steps of counterfeit detection I listed are valid for foreign british gold too. That's all I was asking.

Like someone said on the open forum, I might as well not post here. He said people here were verbally throwing rotten fruit at me. And that I had to do quite a bit to "piss them off". I guess I did, I didn't mean to. It's so frusterating imagining how many people read this thread, don't post because they're sick of it, when I really need help on a subject. I guess I'm really losing friends around here. I really like all of you guys, you can be very helpful. I apolgoize if I sound foolish at times.

BurritoGrande · May 15, 2004 1:12PM

Yes, they are valid for all coins

python · May 15, 2004 1:14PM

Have you thought of asking on the NGC board. I think they have experts that help out.

GoldCoinLover · May 15, 2004 1:25PM

Thank you, BurritoGrande. Yes I've posted on NGC, but it takes days for them to respond.

Spinynorman · May 15, 2004 2:04PM

<< Have you thought of asking on the NGC board. I think they have experts that help out. >>

Aethelred · May 15, 2004 3:24PM

ANACS slabbed your Sovereign, it IS real!

Lloyd · May 15, 2004 6:05PM

Well I've seen that sovereign and I'm not sure.

GCL I think you should post more threads about it until you get the answers you deserve.

If I were you I would DEMAND SATISFACTION. These guys have too much time on their hands. They're purpose in life is to be here to help you. And they're doing a pretty crummy job.

Some of them even have the audacity to go out to work most days.

L

sumnom · May 15, 2004 9:34PM

Don't ever believe anything anyone says on the Open Forum.

GoldCoinLover · May 16, 2004 4:31AM

<< Well I've seen that sovereign and I'm not sure.

GCL I think you should post more threads about it until you get the answers you deserve.

If I were you I would DEMAND SATISFACTION. These guys have too much time on their hands. They're purpose in life is to be here to help you. And they're doing a pretty crummy job.

Some of them even have the audacity to go out to work most days.

L

>>

I really wish some people here were more helpful than to post harassing comments.

Sylvestius · May 16, 2004 5:30AM

Presuming it's a St George Sovereign...

1) if dated between 1821-1887 (young head), always check St George's helmet, there should be no plume on these issues.

2) Sovereigns should weigh 8 grams.

3) on fakes the milling on the edge may be at a diagonal rather than straight

4) drop the coin and listen to the sound, once you've dropped as many as i have you soon beging to recognise the 'gold ring', if it's duller than that it's a fake. (obviously if it's a high grade you might not want to try this, dropping it about an inch is enough to tell you though).

5) Don't buy any 1917 London mint sovereigns because it's most likely they are fake.

Many dates have been faked at some point or other, but the ones to watch out for are;

1819, 1822, 1827, 1828, 1917, 1920-S, 1922-S, 1923-S and 1926-S

Hope that helps!

Lloyd · May 16, 2004 9:04AM

<< I really wish some people here were more helpful than to post harassing comments. >>

Aw c'mon GCL.... It's not as if anyone's died - I mean, it's just a coin isn't it?

I just find this particular coin disturbing. The mere thought of it sends a violent shudder through my inner self. Like a meat hook through the palette on a freezing cold morning.

Know what I mean?

L

lathmach · May 16, 2004 10:11AM

<< ANACS slabbed your Sovereign, it IS real! >>

I told him exactly the same thing a couple weeks ago over on the U.S, coin forum.
He's just a kid. But a slow learner.

Ray

GoldCoinLover · May 16, 2004 12:00PM

<< 

<< I really wish some people here were more helpful than to post harassing comments. >>

Aw c'mon GCL.... It's not as if anyone's died - I mean, it's just a coin isn't it?

I just find this particular coin disturbing. The mere thought of it sends a violent shudder through my inner self. Like a meat hook through the palette on a freezing cold morning.

Know what I mean?

L >>

Heh, why?

Can you use the same method to find out of a gold coin is geniune in the US with a gold sovereign or

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