How can you spot a fake?

perro

How can you determine if a gold coin is real or not? Is there any easy way?

Thanks,

perro

homerunhall

Hi Perro,

The is no easy way to tell gold counterfeits...and some are quite good. The pros tell in two different ways. First, there are a few guys (John Dannreuther and others) who know die characteristics and can tell when something is amiss. Second, many seasoned pros just know from the look of a coin. After you see tens of thousands of gold coins, you know when they don't look right.

Personally, there are two things that tip me off to a counterfeit. First, many counterfeit gold coins have a "fuzzy" look to them. The coin design detail isn't as sharp as on genuine coins. Second, the color of counterfeits is often not right. This is a little subjective, but it works for me.

This is a difficult area for non-pros and I suggest that you only buy certified gold coins.

Thanks,

David