WARNING.......

SilverBaron

This situation will not affect most of us on the forum ... BUTTTT...

There is a FLOOD of COUNTERFIET 1984 1 oz silver prospectors on E-Bay and showing up in shops

all over the country. These babies are very deceptive. They look proof and weigh in very close to 1 oz.

The most obvious "flaw" is that the panners RIGHT thumb is not correct .... this is easy to see

when compaired to any date , real, prospector.


Be carefull out there ......... and keep on stack'n!!

DorkGirl

Thanks!

jmski52

SB, good heads-up!

Your avatar must've been a subliminal post-hypnotic suggestion. I bought these at the last show in St. Louis, pretty much on impulse.

Julio

Thank you for the info. Take care. jws

AUandAG

got comparison pics?

bob

Darin

Thanks, I only have a few prospectors but I guess I'll check them.

mariner67

Yeah, I've got some also that I will have to pull out.
Thanks for the heads up.
Can anyone post real and counterfeit images please?


Edited for spelling.

Justacommeman

Whew, only that..................I thought when I saw the thread title you may have sold all your silver in anticipation of a collapse

MJ

tydye

Thanks for the warning. When you say counterfeit - do you mean composed of a different metal or not struck by Engelhard?

BigRick

Pics? Links?

calleocho

There are two different reverses for that year...are the fakes using both or just one type?

theDabbler

<< <i>Yeah, I've got some also that I will have to pull out.
Thanks for the heads up.
Can anyone post real and counterfeit images please?


Edited for spelling. >>



I'm guessing here, but:

real (using 1985, on the assumption that they didn't redesign the prospector)

fake - look at the right hand

Most of the '84's had terrible images.

mariner67

OK, so in the real McCoy the right thumb is flexed/bent.
In the fake it is straighter.
I also checked on eBay but you pulled up better comparisons, especially when you use the zoom function.
Thanks.

sumrtym

Actually, if you have one check, but I don't think the thumb is the way to check. If you have a real one, I think the fakes are noticeably thicker when you lay it next to a real one. They tend to weigh over 32 grams instead of 31.1.

Double-check, but I think that's your real test right there.

theDabbler

<< <i>Actually, if you have one check, but I don't think the thumb is the way to check. If you have a real one, I think the fakes are noticeably thicker when you lay it next to a real one. They tend to weigh over 32 grams instead of 31.1.

Double-check, but I think that's your real test right there. >>



I just did a web search. It looks like there are a couple types of fakes, with different weights (some high, some low). None of the other posts talk about the thumb, so no telling how consistent it is.

Time for a scale and calipers.

FullCameo

I've also ran into fake 72% mexican silver on ebay more than once. Make sure you weigh this stuff after you get it.

guitarwes

<< <i>Whew, only that..................I thought when I saw the thread title you may have sold all your silver in anticipation of a collapse

MJ >>




This is exactly what I thought when I saw the title of this thread. I had 17 buyers on the phone on hold between clicking on it to open up and reading it.

Thanks for the heads up.

SilverBaron

I bought these at the last show in St. Louis, pretty much on impulse.

I pick these up any time I see them .... Great little guys!!


got comparison pics?

No...... Other folks are better at the pixs than I am.


Whew, only that..................I thought when I saw the thread title you may have sold all your silver in anticipation of a collapse

H*** NO .......... I'm stacking as fast as I can !!


Thanks for the warning. When you say counterfeit - do you mean composed of a different metal or not struck by Engelhard?

Both .......... These are NOT .999 fine silver ........ nor are they struck by Engelhard.


Real



Fake

Notice that the pan does not look quite right ............ this one uses the " Big E " reverse.


Keep your peepers open!!

Wingsrule

At least the description in the "fake" auction calls out "999 fine LAYERED silver" (my emphasis added)

TheBigB

Isn't the main diagnostic the proof-like finish, were any silver prospectors originally done in proof?

Wingsrule

The same seller has a bunch of Krugs and Maple Leaf gold selling under "collectibles". His auction description states that there are no replica or copy markings of any kind, and just imagine the profits that could be made.

Reported, several times.

ricko

Thanks for the warning.... Cheers, RickO

brokeer

The auctions for the "layered" silver Prospectors, "layered" gold Krands and Maple Leafs have been removed. Only the one ounce "layered "silver bars remain. I wonder if the seller removed them or if it was Ebay?