Quite a few candidates for "Most Counterfeited Coin"

daOnlyBG

I've dealt with Chinese Pandas, Morgans, Gold Eagles, and so forth. Fortunately, I have yet to get stung with a fake- knock on wood. However, from these dealings, and from so many threads on the forums, I keep coming across many coins that are the "most counterfeited coin" out there. Just recently, someone said that the 1916-D (Mercury dime) is the most faked coin out there.
Now, "most" is a superlative ranking, and thus, I expect that only one coin can be the most counterfeited one in the hobby/business.
Which is it? Does anyone know? Is there data to support it?

morgansforever

I would say the 93S and 89CC Morgan, 16D dime, 14Dcent and early Bust dollars are at the top of the most counterfeited list.

IrishMikey

If you are talking about counterfeits, I would pick the 1804 $, due to the tens of thousands made
and distributed in SouthEast Asia. If you are talking about all fakes, which includes alterations,
then the 1916-D Mercury dime comes in first. There are more Added D fakes of the 1916-D than
genuine specimens.

BillJones

I'd say that the 1909-S-VDB cent has got to be up there, especially if you incluce the pieces with the added mint mark. At one time I thought that there were more examples of this piece now than in 1909.

morgansforever

@IrishMikey - I can remember reading somewhere that the 16D dime is the most faked coin (added mm). I think it was in my PCGS counterfeit book.

@BillJones - How could I forget to mention the 09SVDB with the added S. Has to be in the top 5.

TPRC

I always thought it was generic $1, 2-1/2 (incuse) and $3 gold pieces. What a way to increase your return on bullion. This has likely changed though. The 16-d is the most counterfeited coin I have ever seen.

ColonelJessup

generic $20 Lib

Wouldn't 09-S VDB's and 16-D's be genuine coins that were altered, rather than that coins produced totally outside the Mint?

DeliaBug

Ancients take the cake here. Probably the Athenian owl tetradrachms. Tons of them made for the tourists, and 2000+ years of counterfeiting.

johnny9434

i see alot of 1909 s vdb cents out there that are bogus

daOnlyBG

<< <i>i see alot of 1909 s vdb cents out there that are bogus >>


As do I. ColonelJessup makes an interesting distinction, though- altered coins vs coins completely made outside the mint. I guess I'm asking for the latter, but I'd love to hear about the former as well.

By the way, Johnny, you just hit 10,000 posts. Congratulations!!!

ColonelJessup

<< <i>Ancients take the cake here. Probably the Athenian owl tetradrachms. Tons of them made for the tourists, and 2000+ years of counterfeiting. >>



Upon reflection

However, you did not frame your response in the form of a question

sniocsu

1799 LCs. Chain cents as well

AMRC

I once bought a collection with 3 fake 09-S VDBs in it.