Saw a dealer at a show today with large selection of counterfeits....

VamCollector

He had several pages in a 2x2 folder with nothing but counterfeit morgans, bust dollars, etc. Looked just like some of the c*** I see all over Ebay these days. Also had "altered" coins like a fake 37 3-legged Buffalo. Very interesting......I did think the counterfeits were illegal to sell. Am I wrong?

nwcs

They are illegal to sell as real. But I think it's OK to sell them clearly marked as counterfeits.

VamCollector

Yeah, he had them labeled as fake. Never seen an 1806 or 1807 bust dollar before

goose3

there is a niche of collectors that go for these things and I have seen some of them sell for pretty crazy money.


I believe there is someone on here that collects counterfeits. RKay??

JrGMan2004

<< <i>there is a niche of collectors that go for these things and I have seen some of them sell for pretty crazy money.


I believe there is someone on here that collects counterfeits. RKay?? >>

Yeah, Rick has a Counterfeit collection, though I believe it is primarilly Counterfeit Patterns. I've heard of several counterfeits, where the counterfeit is now worth more than the actual coin! Just depends on who dun it and when...

ldhair

Do folks really do that?

Tootawl

If anyone wants a 1906 SAE, let me know. A guy at my local coin club has one for sale.

Conder101

Yes some of us do collect counterfeits.

BigD5

A lot of bust half counterfeits are worth more than the real coin.

I have a few. A walker, seated dime, barber dime, IHC.....just interesting coins.

lathmach

I have a collection of counterfeit coins. The ones I want are the contemporary ones, not the junk coming from China.
I like the Seated Contemporary Counterfeits made from hand cut dies.

Ray

DaveG

njcoincrank has carried contemporary counterfeits.

I bought a really nice counterfeit 1861 quarter eagle from him when he had a nice batch, including gold dollars, Walkers, SLQs, etc.

I believe that contemporary counterfeit Bust halves are very popular.

I also think that some folks collect the current counterfeits coming out of China, especially the "fantasy" coins - wrong dates, wrong reverse types, etc.

Merc

I had a fellow coin collector recently return from China and Hong Kong. He said he saw lots of US counterfiet coins for sale there to American tourists. All the dollar type coins are easily available. None are marked copy as required by US law. I guess that's why they are being made in China. Still, isn't it illeagal to sell counterfiet USA coins in the USA without the COPY mark?

ldhair

<< <i>Still, isn't it illeagal to sell counterfiet USA coins in the USA without the COPY mark? >>


Not if you state that they are fake.

Conder101

<< <i><< Still, isn't it illeagal to sell counterfiet USA coins in the USA without the COPY mark? >>

Not if you state that they are fake >>


Not correct. If they were made after 1973 and aren't marked COPY they are illegal to sell even if you say they are fake. They violate the Hobby Protection Act. Well technically they don't, your act of selling does because the Act make the action selling or importing unmarked copies illegal. So even if you tell the buyer it is a fake, you are still selling an unmarked copy and therefor breaking the law.

relayer

what Conder101 said

291fifth

If the counterfeits are unmarked it is illegal to even possess them, let alone sell them. However, the govt. apparently has better things to do today than enforce the counterfeiting laws. Even a few well publicized prosecutions would drive this garbage back into hiding.

ldhair

I'm wrong. I looked at the act again and agree.
I learned something I didn't know reading it.

Altered coins fall under these same rules.


<< <i>(d) Imitation numismatic item means an item which purports to be, but in fact is not, an original numismatic item or which is a reproduction, copy, or counterfeit of an original numismatic item. Such term includes an original numismatic item which has been altered or modified in such a manner that it could reasonably purport to be an original numismatic item other than the one which was altered or modified. The term shall not include any re-issue or re-strike of any original numismatic item by the United States or any foreign government. >>

dorkkarl

c/f's can be legally bought & sold as such, & , i own quite a few myself.

K S