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How Inclusive is the Fivaz Counterfeit Gold Guide?
C0inCollect0r
Posts: 374 ✭✭
Hello folks,
I know of course that the Fivaz Guide cannot cover every possible counterfeit US Classic Gold piece, but I was just wondering if anyone might be able to give me some guidance as to whether it covers "most" of the fake markers and varieties, or whether it is basically the "tip of the iceberg." Thank you.
I know of course that the Fivaz Guide cannot cover every possible counterfeit US Classic Gold piece, but I was just wondering if anyone might be able to give me some guidance as to whether it covers "most" of the fake markers and varieties, or whether it is basically the "tip of the iceberg." Thank you.
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<< <i>Hello folks,
I know of course that the Fivaz Guide cannot cover every possible counterfeit US Classic Gold piece, but I was just wondering if anyone might be able to give me some guidance as to whether it covers "most" of the fake markers and varieties, or whether it is basically the "tip of the iceberg." Thank you. >>
Tip of the iceberg. New counterfeit gold coins are being produced every day. Just because a gold coin isn't in the book doesn't prove that it's authentic. That being said, this book does give the collector numerous examples of characteristics to look for when examining gold coins being considered for purchase.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
“When I first decided to write a book on counterfeit gold coins, I really didn’t have a good confidence level on the subject,” says author Bill Fivaz. “I didn’t collect gold and seldom looked at these coins at conventions, at coin shows, and at meetings.”
Fivaz felt a reference book was badly needed, however, as there had not been one published on the subject in more than 30 years. “As I researched, I sought the opinions of dealers and numismatists who collect, buy, sell, and trade in this segment of numismatics. Everyone agreed that this is a very serious problem, but because of the scope of the topic, no one had wanted to attempt a book-length study.”
While researching the material for the United States Gold Counterfeit Detection Guide, out of necessity Fivaz learned a great deal about what to look for, how to differentiate genuine specimens from counterfeits, and how to best present this new-found knowledge to the general numismatic community. “I now have an infinitely better confidence level on gold,” he says, “and I hope you will too, after reading this book.”
The first counterfeit detection book Fivaz wrote years ago dealt with non-gold coins, and all the photos and diagnostics presented were of genuine specimens. “In that reference book,” he recalls, “I felt it was better to teach readers the things to look for on genuine coins, and not confuse them with information on both legitimate and counterfeit pieces.
I decided that in this book, because there are so many different kinds of counterfeit coins that will fool collectors (and dealers), it would be more meaningful to illustrate and list the diagnostics of the pieces not to buy.”
A surprisingly large number of the United States gold pieces currently on the market are counterfeit (as described by Randy Campbell in the book’s foreword). Many of these counterfeit pieces have been produced overseas, and they usually contain gold of the proper weight and fineness. “It is vital to be able to identify these coins and reject them when offered,” says Fivaz. “You don’t want any unpleasant surprises when you or your heirs dispose of your collection.”
This book shares several rules of thumb that should be kept in mind when examining a gold coin for authenticity. “These are not hard-and-fast rules,” says Fivaz, “but they provide an excellent basis for your inspection.” A glossary follows the Rules of Thumb section. Next comes the meat of the book: a coin-by-coin study of examples within each circulating regular-issue denomination, plus commemoratives and California fractional gold. The book concludes with an appendix of proper U.S. gold coin weights (an invaluable diagnostic), and an appendix showing features of genuine gold coins. Reading and studying all of these elements will give you a solid education in a potentially tricky but very rewarding field of the hobby.
If you're curious about the book and you're a member of the American Numismatic Association, you can borrow a copy for free from the Dwight N. Manley Numismatic Library.
<< <i>Hello folks,
I know of course that the Fivaz Guide cannot cover every possible counterfeit US Classic Gold piece, but I was just wondering if anyone might be able to give me some guidance as to whether it covers "most" of the fake markers and varieties, or whether it is basically the "tip of the iceberg." Thank you. >>
Just a fraction.
New collectors, please educate yourself before spending money on coins; there are people who believe that using numismatic knowledge to rip the naïve is what this hobby is all about.
In addition to reading and learning from experts, the best way to get a feel for authentic gold is to personally observe hundreds or thousands of individual coins.
I was sitting with Jeff Garrett at an ANA show a few years ago, discussing one of his book projects. A collector came up to the table, seemingly exasperated. He apologized for interrupting, and handed Jeff an old gold coin. "I've really been wrestling with this one," he said. "Is it fake or real?" Jeff took the coin, held it up, looked at obverse and reverse --- maybe a three- or four-second appraisal --- and said, "It's a fake." I would love to have that kind of eye! It was as if the guy had asked him, "Is this animal a cat or a dog?" Of course, gold specialists like Jeff Garrett, Doug Winter, et al., have carefully observed thousands and thousands of individual coins, so they know what to look for and they can spot a fake from the proverbial mile away.
"Lonesome John" (John Devine)/Detecting Counterfeit Gold Coins (book 2) [1977, self-published]
This paperback contains lots of B/W images of both U.S. and common foreign gold coins (book 1 focuses on U. S. coins in other metals).
If you cannot find a copy in print via Amazon.com or Wizard, try Abebooks.
As others noted, Fivaz' book just scratches the surface. Still, every gold collector should own a copy.
RMR: 'Wer, wenn ich schriee, hörte mich denn aus der Engel Ordnungen?'
CJ: 'No one!' [Ain't no angels in the coin biz]
and yes like most say, once youve looked at a lot of reals/fakes you CAN spot the fake from 'a mile away'. often its the color, or the 'look' of the piece. A good loupe will reveal sloppy details, spikes off the dentils, soft depressions........
I have matched a few fake gold dollars on ebay, (and one i hand) with the exact diagnostics in the Fivaz book, so while it may NOT cover every know example, the overall basic diagnostics prevail over the entire gold series.
RMR: 'Wer, wenn ich schriee, hörte mich denn aus der Engel Ordnungen?'
CJ: 'No one!' [Ain't no angels in the coin biz]
would I buy raw gold from ebay?
no