$5 indian

GoldenNickels

I have a "not geniune" 1915 $5 indian. It's a good looking fake. Does anyone know what the graders look for to determine that this coin is a fake?

Who makes these coins?

Purchased on ebay for $250. That won't happen again.

Leiana

Hi there!

It's not a 15-D, is it?

Just messin'.

I know that one diagnostic is tool marks on the back of the Indian's neck. Also, the lustre would not be what it should be.

These are usually struck counterfeits, I believe.

-Amanda

GoldenNickels

Not a 1915-D. I had already read about those.

I have another 1915 that graded Au50 from PCGS. With the naked eye I don't see a difference.

Are the fakes made outside of the US? Lebanon?

GoldenNickels

duplicate post

messydesk

I submitted a handful of gold to ANACS for someone a couple years ago, and I think 1915 $1 was one that was bad (also a 1909 $5). One thing I remember with one of them was mushy designer's initials compared to a real one.

mhammerman

There are a number of diagnostics for $5 indians. Tool marks on the neck, unaligned beads in the necklace, plenty of things mentioned in the PCGS book and the counterfeit gold coins book. Better read up before you spend your bens on raw.

BillJones

As others have mentioned, the recessed area in the Indian's neck is one place to check. Quite often a counterfeit will have tooled areas there because the counterfeiters have trouble getting that point, which is one of the highest parts of the die, smooth.

You should also compare the relief of the counterfeit with that of your certified coin. The counterfets I have seen had lower relief and lacked sharpness. The letters and devices were not as well defined and looked "out of focus" when you compared them to the genuine coin.

GoldenNickels

I'll have to stay with graded coins. I can see no difference in the neckline or the initials. Do these coins have the same gold content as the real ones?

My digital camera doesn't take close up photos. Time for a new one, eh?

AlixTCat

<< <i>I'll have to stay with graded coins. I can see no difference in the neckline or the initials. Do these coins have the same gold content as the real ones?

My digital camera doesn't take close up photos. Time for a new one, eh? >>



Try a Nikon Coolpix you can buy for cheap on eBay. I use a 2100, but there are newer models... The Coolpix seem to have a great macro capability. I use it for all my coin pictures. I hope, someday, to have a digital SLR, but for now I only spent $65 on this camera.

Jonathan

TheRaven

Yea stay with top tier certified coins and you will avoid this problem.....

Ebay + Raw Gold =

coinguy1

Often, counterfeits don't show the contrast between the fields and devices that genuine coins do. In other words, the surfaces look too uniform in appearance. Also, many counterfeits look to be uncirculated, but are softly struck, so they don't show the detail in strike that a legitimate uncirculated piece should display.

GoldenNickels

Best I can do with the current camera. Anyone see anything out of the ordinary?

coinguy1

<< <i>

Best I can do with the current camera. Anyone see anything out of the ordinary? >>

See my comments above.

darktone

Look for weird looking die cracks by the stars- usually the first thing that is noticable except for the off color when you get used to them. On the good side it is probably real gold so you are not out the whole $250.

mhammerman

Look at the necklace, flat color, light bounce off of the breast plate, flat plateau on the cheek, soft strike...

here's an au58 for comparison


Buy the book, then the coin.