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The Chinese counterfeit problem...it's entering a new phase.

291fifth291fifth Posts: 24,673 ✭✭✭✭✭
No longer is it just silver dollars, now they are expanding into much more.

Can anything be done about it? Does anyone actually care?

Am I the only one that thinks this has become a real threat to the well being of US numismatics?
All glory is fleeting.
«1

Comments

  • knowledge is the best weapon.

    If everyone has a weapon than we can win the war
  • They are more than happy to sell them to you WITHOUT "REPLICA" stamped on them.
  • AUandAGAUandAG Posts: 24,929 ✭✭✭✭✭
    It's a threat to those not in the know. Those of us that are aware need to point out all that we can find to other
    forum members (after all are we not here to share knowledge and prevent disasters?) so that they don't make
    the same mistakes some of us have. Can't catch them all for sure. Yes, they are now making CC trade dollars in
    the correct weight and maybe even overweight! That's making it worse. Can we stop them? No,, we can't, but
    ebay has the power to shut them down. US Raw coins from China or asia should be banned unless they meet the
    new ebay rules for slabbing. Then, fake slabs will become the biggest problem, hmmmmmmm.
    bob
    Registry: CC lowballs (boblindstrom), bobinvegas1989@yahoo.com
  • now they are expanding into much more.

    Can you be more specific with some data to illustrate your point?
    My style is impetuous, my defense is impregnable !
  • tydyetydye Posts: 3,894 ✭✭✭
    I saw some counterfeit Mexican 50 Peso gold coins in some 3rd world slabs today at the flea market. American Grading Service was the name I believe. Lots of Seated Dollars as well. The Dollars were crude but the Pesos were convincing at first glance.
  • 291fifth291fifth Posts: 24,673 ✭✭✭✭✭
    So far, in addition to the dollars, on eBay I have seen apparent fakes of:

    1879, 1880 & 1881 Shield nickels
    1901-S Barber Dime
    1932-D Quarter
    1909-S VDB cent
    1909-S Indian cent
    assorted half dollars

    among others.

    The shield nickels have been seen both with and without "replica" stamped on the reverse.

    I'm sure there are plenty of others.
    All glory is fleeting.
  • robkoolrobkool Posts: 5,934 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I've also noticed alot of 09-s vdb Lincoln cents popping up on e-bay from China as well as fake 16 d Mercury dimes in fake ANACS holders too...
  • pb2ypb2y Posts: 1,461
    The TPGs will be the first to benefit from the current flood
    of counterfeits.
    image

  • The fakes have improved. Sooner or later (as these crooked Chinese craftsmen improve their skills) the fakes may become very hard to detect. Knowledge may not help unless every collector becomes an expert. At what point will the US government step in and do something about it.
    Advanced collector of BREWERIANA. Early beer advertising (beer cans, tap knobs, foam scrapers, trays, tin signs, lithos, paper, etc)....My first love...U.S. COINS!
  • pb2ypb2y Posts: 1,461


    << <i> At what point will the US government step in and do something about it. >>



    Treasury agents are buried tracking down crooks passing millions in paper
    currency. A ton of counterfeit coins passing between dealers collectors is a small matter.
    image

  • RYKRYK Posts: 35,799 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Gosh, I am glad that I no longer actively collect US coins. image


  • << <i>

    << <i> At what point will the US government step in and do something about it. >>



    Treasury agents are buried tracking down crooks passing millions in paper
    currency. A ton of counterfeit coins passing between dealers collectors is a small matter. >>



    There are many other counterfeits being made and sold, including luxury goods, tech parts, DVDs, CDs, software, video games. The fake U. S. coins are likely to be less than 0.1% of the problem.

    Perhaps 2% of collectors can authenticate coins well enough to ferret out the better fakes. The majority of collectors can't grade with consistency, how in the world can they authenticate? It takes years to learn authentication, and staying up to speed requires being well connected in the knowledge loop as new fakes come on the market. The fakes are likely to continue get better each and every year.
  • lordmarcovanlordmarcovan Posts: 43,795 ✭✭✭✭✭
    What's scary now are the fake coins in counterfeit slabs. (So far I have seen counterfeit ANACS small-capsule and NGC slabs).

    Explore collections of lordmarcovan on CollecOnline, management, safe-keeping, sharing and valuation solution for art piece and collectibles.
  • orevilleoreville Posts: 12,137 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Well if the Chinese are getting so good in producing these counterfeits then perhaps the US Mint could learn a thing or two from them as they make more of the retro coins?

    A Collectors Universe poster since 1997!
  • DoubleEagle59DoubleEagle59 Posts: 8,377 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Plenty of Canadian rare date fakes too on Ebay,

    such as the: 1921 5c, 1890-H 50c, 1875-H 25c, 1889 25c, 1884 10c.

    lots of them lately, but they are very easy to tell (so far).
    "Gold is money, and nothing else" (JP Morgan, 1912)

    "“Those who sacrifice liberty for security/safety deserve neither.“(Benjamin Franklin)

    "I only golf on days that end in 'Y'" (DE59)
  • people can say that knowlege will protect them and that's technically true...

    for the small percentage of collectors who can discern real from fake. that's not the majority
    of collectors though. lot of people have the type of activities in a day that do not allow for
    the research it takes and rely on some level of market confidence.

    and once that confidence diminishes, as it will shortly be as things progress, it will reduce what
    the average collector is willing to risk. if anything at all.



  • << <i>Can anything be done about it? Does anyone actually care?

    Am I the only one that thinks this has become a real threat to the well being of US numismatics? >>


    Declare war on China!
    Never teach a pig to sing. You'll waste your time and annoy the pig image

    image
  • I only buy coins from the US Mint. That way I never have to worry about counterfeits. image
  • CladiatorCladiator Posts: 18,233 ✭✭✭✭✭
    They're more than a numifmatic threat and there is fomething that can be done about it.

    image


  • << <i> only buy coins from the US Mint. That way I never have to worry about counterfeits >>



    maybe the worst angle of all. paying the mint markup where other areas of numismatics may be offering discounts,
    then suffering the wrath of confidence on the secondary market when it's time to sell.
  • One of the good things about being a "label buying chump": the authenticity guarantee image




  • mrearlygoldmrearlygold Posts: 17,858 ✭✭✭
    I received a Polish coin from a seller in China 2 weeks ago and it's on it's way back from NGC in an MS-67 holder.image
  • lordmarcovanlordmarcovan Posts: 43,795 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>They're more than a numifmatic threat and there is fomething that can be done about it. >>

    Have you been perufing feveral 18th century documents lately, Cladiator? image


    Explore collections of lordmarcovan on CollecOnline, management, safe-keeping, sharing and valuation solution for art piece and collectibles.
  • CladiatorCladiator Posts: 18,233 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>They're more than a numifmatic threat and there is fomething that can be done about it. >>

    Have you been perufing feveral 18th century documents lately, Cladiator? image >>

    image




  • << <i>people can say that knowlege will protect them and that's technically true...

    for the small percentage of collectors who can discern real from fake. that's not the majority
    of collectors though. lot of people have the type of activities in a day that do not allow for
    the research it takes and rely on some level of market confidence.

    and once that confidence diminishes, as it will shortly be as things progress, it will reduce what
    the average collector is willing to risk. if anything at all. >>

    Exactly. People who casually collect and enjoy the hobby on a part time basis will suffer and be afraid to buy anything too pricey. Ebay will die a fast death for alot of people. I wont buy on there anymore. I'd rather go through reputable dealers with REAL guarantees of authenticity. Looking for cool coins in circulation is also an option, but getting fooled by fake coins and slabs isn't.
  • KonaheadKonahead Posts: 1,476 ✭✭✭


    << <i>One of the good things about being a "label buying chump": the authenticity guarantee image >>

    image
    PEACE! This is the first day of the rest of your life.

    Fred, Las Vegas, NV


  • << <i>No longer is it just silver dollars, now they are expanding into much more.

    Can anything be done about it? Does anyone actually care?

    Am I the only one that thinks this has become a real threat to the well being of US numismatics? >>




    No longer? Now?
    Where have you been? The Chinese have been counterfeiting 1875 five French Francs pieces, 1937 British Crowns, 1907 German 50 Marcs, 1882 Mexican 8 reals, 1959 Bermuda crowns, 1947 Mexican 50 Pesos, Thalers and probably a host of other coins.
    They are polluting World Numismatics, not just U.S. Numismatics.
    Can anything be done? Other than becoming informed about what you are purchasing, probably not.
    The Chinese Gov. does not seem to be overly concerned that their country is sending out products into the world that will kill its customers, so I cannot see them being overly concerned about the authenticity of the coins it’s citizens sell to people who live outside of China.
    J.Cordeiro
    image
    "I has a bucket." - Minazo.
    Minazo the LOLRUS, 1994-2005
    image
  • I hate China!
  • AnkurJAnkurJ Posts: 11,370 ✭✭✭✭
    The answer in my opinion is simple. If the item comes from China, dont bid on it! Even if the location says USA, you can look at the feedback for the actual location.
    AJ
    All coins kept in bank vaults.
    PCGS Registries
    Box of 20
    SeaEagleCoins: 11/14/54-4/5/12. Miss you Larry!
  • 7Jaguars7Jaguars Posts: 7,736 ✭✭✭✭✭
    That report of the now graded Polish bit from China - what if that is fake? I have seen coins pictured on the net and at some of the more famous auction houses that don't look quite right at least from the pictures, but difficult to tell. The ones that are ID'd are easy because they have; what about those that may get encapsulated?
    Love that Milled British (1830-1960)
    Well, just Love coins, period.
  • I have said this before and will say it again. The best thing that we can do is to STOP buying all products that are made in China. I have instructed my wife to do this---regardless of what it is. My grandchildren can play with toys that come from somewhere else. I've always used Crest tootpaste. You guys can do the same. Punish them BY NOT BUYING from them.

    As to the counterfeiting of our coins and currency, why not return the favor?? I would hope that our government is already printing the appropriate amount of Chinese counterfeit currency and returning it into their market places. I say what is good for the goose is also good for the gander.

    Iran and China---and others---are out to get us. No matter what we do or what they say. They want to ruin our economy. We MUST understand this and treat them as they are treating us. Only if you hurt them worse than they are hurting us, will they ever stop. They must laugh at us as they use our sense of 'fair play'---AGAINST US. America is at war already. We had better wake up and realize this and do something about it. It isn't just terrorists with bombs on airplanes. Sorry for the rant. Bob [supertooth]
    Bob
  • ebaytraderebaytrader Posts: 3,312 ✭✭✭


    << <i>I hate China! >>




    Paper plates for you?
  • jmski52jmski52 Posts: 23,225 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I have said this before and will say it again. The best thing that we can do is to STOP buying all products that are made in China. I have instructed my wife to do this---regardless of what it is. My grandchildren can play with toys that come from somewhere else. I've always used Crest tootpaste. You guys can do the same. Punish them BY NOT BUYING from them.

    As to the counterfeiting of our coins and currency, why not return the favor?? I would hope that our government is already printing the appropriate amount of Chinese counterfeit currency and returning it into their market places. I say what is good for the goose is also good for the gander.

    Iran and China---and others---are out to get us. No matter what we do or what they say. They want to ruin our economy. We MUST understand this and treat them as they are treating us. Only if you hurt them worse than they are hurting us, will they ever stop. They must laugh at us as they use our sense of 'fair play'---AGAINST US. America is at war already. We had better wake up and realize this and do something about it. It isn't just terrorists with bombs on airplanes. Sorry for the rant. Bob [supertooth]


    image

    It's no joke. It's very real. Don't buy China-anything. It's your health and safety that you are gambling with, and their stuff is crap anyway.
    Q: Are You Printing Money? Bernanke: Not Literally

    I knew it would happen.
  • 7Jaguars7Jaguars Posts: 7,736 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Well, I tend to agree that avoiding Chinese produced items a good idea but think that may be harder in practice. I noticed that the Safeway brand of apple juice has been through China. Bikes are mostly made there and almost all little tourist items have the ubiquitous "Made in China" label. So do the best you can, but may be a bit tougher than it seems.
    Love that Milled British (1830-1960)
    Well, just Love coins, period.
  • Time for my 2 cents worth. I have a small trophyshop in Northern Calif and most of the figures I use are from China. I tried to buy ALL US made figures one time and I could not afford to carry them. My customers cried about the increase in price and went somewhere else. This country is in so deep that it may be impossible to get out now. And we only have ourselves to blame. Check out the products sold at Wal-Mart.
    When the American consumer decides to support American products then and only then will we as a country start back on the road to being a self sufficent country again.
    Dont buy from China if you can avoid it. They already own too much of this country.
    One more thing..... I think the NAFTA treaty is akin to the Rosenburgs selling atomic bomb secrets. A traitorious act. ( please excuse my spelling . Havent had my 5 cups of coffee yet)
    (climbing down off soap box now)
    Molon Labe
  • CaptHenwayCaptHenway Posts: 32,707 ✭✭✭✭✭
    We recently tried to buy a toaster not made in China, and couldn't.
    Numismatist. 50 year member ANA. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner numerous NLG Literary Awards.


  • They have more time to counterfeit because of the toy recall. HA HA! They have to make a dollar too. Excuse me,I meant .12 an hour. This is the best way to avoid the problem. DON'T BUY THEM!!!!!!!!!!

    eddye
    GO STEELERS
  • BigEBigE Posts: 6,949 ✭✭✭
    What scares me about Chinese counterfeits is that maybe they are already making perfect copies and just release some slightly crude ones to make us think that is all they can do--------------------BigE
    I'm glad I am a Tree
  • pb2ypb2y Posts: 1,461
    Maybe the counterfeits are already prepared and good enough
    to fool the masses. These are the small dollar coins---SBAs and SACs
    which are now circulating in South America by the millions.
    Could this be the reason why the US Government has not obsoleted
    the one dollar bill?
    image

  • DoubleEagle59DoubleEagle59 Posts: 8,377 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Don't buy China-anything. It's your health and safety that you are gambling with, and their stuff is crap anyway.

    When I was a kid in the 60's, all the cheap 2 cent toys had a "Made in Japan" label on them. When something broke down we always said "It must be Made in Japan". It's funny we don't say that now. Now we envy Japanese made products (cars come to mind) and their work ethic.

    Now it's China's turn. Cheap products that are always breaking down are coming from China in a big way. Health issues and their quality control is not very good. But...it would be interesting to leap forward twenty years and see the quality of their products. I'm guessing they'll be doing very well in America selling automobiles and other fine products that don't break down.

    I'm definitely not pro-Chinese, I'm just seeing reality, that's all.

    "Gold is money, and nothing else" (JP Morgan, 1912)

    "“Those who sacrifice liberty for security/safety deserve neither.“(Benjamin Franklin)

    "I only golf on days that end in 'Y'" (DE59)
  • Coming probably in the next few years - cars made in China. So far they would not pass certain safety and air pollution standards to be
    sold in the US but they probably will in the future. They are eager to enter the US market.
  • The Sleeping Giant is waking.
    I recently heard a talk by Bill Burgess from Burgess Optical who markets telescope and eyepieces for the amateur astronomy community. He made a trip to China to look for good glass and found that the Chinese are quite capable of manufacturing to the highest quality standards. The issue is the price point where the most profit can be made. It is often more profitable to sell one million items at a cost of $.23 than it is to sell 10 at $10000 cost. It's all about the business case and what the market will bear in terms of supply and demand. The coin market is interesting in that the supply of our items is fixed which drives up the price. Since the demand is there for rare coins it is a no brainer for the unscrupulous to want to manufacture dupes with the highest quality. Doesn't make it right and it scares the crap out of me, but I do think the Chinese are very capable and very motivated. Incidentally, there is an article in the November issue of Coin Values on copy coins. I've never seen one of these up close and personal, but the pictures in the magazine are very convincing. Just remove the "COPY" designation and I think most of us would have a hard time telling the difference. Again, very scary.
    Frank

    E PLVRIBVS VNVM
  • 7Jaguars7Jaguars Posts: 7,736 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I know that the "Giant" brand of bicycle made in China is very good quality and excellent alloys, etc. in the frame. Even sponsor a racing team. They too make me nervous and recall as far as work ethic being in school and going into organic chemistry class with a sea of Asian (mainly Chinese) faces and how hard I had to work on a continuing basis to achieve the grades I was trying for.

    I think that besides trying to shop for alternatives (a good idea) that we should also try to support the mom and pop businesses when we can (OK that was self-serving). I think that corporate America was instrumental in shoving that NAFTA thing down our throats. What is also even more scary is that NAFTA has pretty much been superceded by what the Chinese have done as they have blown out "South of the Border" manufacturing with even cheaper labor prices.
    Love that Milled British (1830-1960)
    Well, just Love coins, period.
  • dorancoinsdorancoins Posts: 2,091 ✭✭✭
    I must concur with you. And I might add something to this - if you want to buy American, avoid all of these "dollar" stores, especially Dollar General (or China General, as I call it). It will be hard to find something that is American made these days. Myself, I will buy items that are made in USA, UK, EU (especially Germany), and Canada, if possible. If I have to pay a little more, so be it. Enough of my ranting! image
    DORAN COINS - On Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), & www.dorancoins.net - UPCOMING SHOWS (tentative dates)- 10/8/2023 - Fairfield, IL, 11/5/2023 - Urbana, IL., 12/3/2023 - Mattoon, IL.
  • dorancoinsdorancoins Posts: 2,091 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Coming probably in the next few years - cars made in China. So far they would not pass certain safety and air pollution standards to be
    sold in the US but they probably will in the future. They are eager to enter the US market. >>



    I have been keeping up with that, and Chrysler will be having a Dodge model built in the near future by a Chinese company called CHERY (pronounced like cherry). There goes the big 3! image

    DORAN COINS - On Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), & www.dorancoins.net - UPCOMING SHOWS (tentative dates)- 10/8/2023 - Fairfield, IL, 11/5/2023 - Urbana, IL., 12/3/2023 - Mattoon, IL.
  • ZoinsZoins Posts: 34,401 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Those that are concerned about China, whether in a positive or negative light, should look at US politicians, businessmen and consumers, drivers of China's economy.
  • ZoinsZoins Posts: 34,401 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>Coming probably in the next few years - cars made in China. So far they would not pass certain safety and air pollution standards to be
    sold in the US but they probably will in the future. They are eager to enter the US market. >>

    I have been keeping up with that, and Chrysler will be having a Dodge model built in the near future by a Chinese company called CHERY (pronounced like cherry). There goes the big 3! image >>

    The Detriot big 3 are doing a well enough job of losing market share without the Chinese....
  • pb2ypb2y Posts: 1,461
    Wheredo you find things from the UK or Germany? All I can find from there
    is beer and watered down whiskey.
    image

  • I found one interesting thing while on a multi-month trip through Europe last year. Most of the items for sale that I bothered to check were made in Europe. Specifically, the kinds of things (little knick knacks, kitchen goods, cheap gift items) that are ALWAYS made in China if bought in America. And they were the roughly the same price, after converting Euros (at that time ~$1.20) to dollars, that I would have found an equivalent item for sale in America.

    This was frankly puzzling to me. The EU has extremely low tariffs on non-agricultural goods, averaging 1 to 3 percent. I have my own suspicions about the causes, but it would be un-PC to state them here, as well as too far off the topic of coins!
  • dorancoinsdorancoins Posts: 2,091 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Wheredo you find things from the UK or Germany? All I can find from there
    is beer and watered down whiskey. >>



    Lets see....Braun electric razors, Bosch washer and dryers, and Flexi dog leashes - all three are made in Germany (or "Deutschland" for those who speak "Deutsche")
    DORAN COINS - On Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), & www.dorancoins.net - UPCOMING SHOWS (tentative dates)- 10/8/2023 - Fairfield, IL, 11/5/2023 - Urbana, IL., 12/3/2023 - Mattoon, IL.

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