Understanding Fake Coins and Counterfeit Detection Basics

Written By Christopher Shands – Numismatic Expert – Archangel Coins, Las Vegas

Counterfeit coin detection is a very specialized skill that takes many years to develop. Collectors and numismatic experts train their eye by studying many examples of “Key Date coins. such as a 1909 S VDB – to build experience necessary for spotting a fake coin with confidence.

However, it does not take long for a beginner or experienced collector to be able to recognize poor quality counterfeits or alterations under most circumstances. . By learning how to tell if a coin is counterfeit Collectors can avoid wasting time and costly mistakes.

It is important to remember that fake coins aren’t limited to rare key dates. There are many counterfeit coin techniques, especially those made from silver and gold.

Fake Coins Aren’t Always Rare – Common Examples of Counterfeit Coins:

Some of the most commonly counterfeited coins include:

• American Silver Eagles
• Morgan and Peace Dollars
• Common gold bullion coins
• Key date Lincoln Cents

The most plentiful counterfeits tend to imitate coins made from precious metals. A quick scroll through online marketplaces will reveal many examples of fake gold coins, fake silver dollars, and counterfeit American Silver Eagles.

When it comes to dealing online the adage, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is” comes to mind. With silver trading near $33/ oz the offering pictured below should be viewed as highly suspect, no seller is going to offer silver or gold at half of its value. 

The same highly suspect listings can be found for common date Morgan and Peace Dollars. 

Listings such as these where the value of the precious metal far exceeds the purchase price will likely be made with non-precious “base” metals and silver plated. 

Tools to Spot Fake Coins

Many counterfeit coins are made from magnetic base metals and usually aren’t the correct weight or dimensions. A few handy tools can help with basic counterfeit detection and give collectors a better chance of spotting a fake:

• Digital scale – To check the coin’s weight
• Calipers – For measuring diameter and thickness
• Magnet – To test for base metals that shouldn’t be magnetic

Common Techniques Used to Counterfeit Coins

Changing the Date to Fake a Coin’s Value

Another form of counterfeiting is by altering a common coin into a rare date through the addition or removal of a mintmark or by attempting to change the date of a coin. 

The example displayed on the left is altered from a 1944 D Lincoln Cent (worth about 5 cents.)  A genuine 1914 D Lincoln Cent would start around $100.  The counterfeiter successfully removed the upper part of the “4”, removed the tooling marks caused by the process, and recolored the metal to match.  However, the large gap between the 9 and the 14 along with the incorrect mintmark placement, clearly shows this is a fake coin, not an authentic piece. Please see the image to the right.

A second example of a date commonly being altered would be an 1893 S Morgan Silver Dollar.  This piece on the left was likely made by altering an 1898 S Morgan Silver Dollar, turning a more common coin into a high-value counterfeit. 

When comparing it to the genuine example, one clear sign of how to detect a counterfeit is in the date itself: on the right it can easily be seen that the bottom curl of the 3 on the real coin is significantly more open as opposed to the altered fake. 

Alteration of the Mintmark

Another common way to create fake coins is the addition or removal of a mintmark by either adding one where there wasn’t one originally, or removing it completely to make a coin appear rarer than it is. The addition of a mintmark is a particular concern on coins like the 1909 S VDB Lincoln cent.

The example to the left has an added “S” mintmark. With only 4 different obverse dies used for the variety it is easy to compare mintmark position, shape, size and orientation to genuine examples.

Removal of the Mintmark

The other form of altering a coin’s mintmark is through its removal. There should be no machining, unusual scratches, discoloration, or loss of design features in the area where a mintmark would have been located.

An example of a coin that counterfeiters like to target is the 1928 S Peace dollar. This coin presents as an easy target as the mintmark is very small on Peace dollars, most of the time removed with a small dermal or sanding type device. The San Francisco issue is dramatically more common than the 1928 Philadelphia.

Using Die Characteristics to Detect Fake Coins

What Is A Coin Die?

In numismatics, dies are metal stamps used to strike the design onto a coin; one for the front (obverse) and one for the back (reverse). These dies can wear down or show small differences over time, which collectors use to match coins to known die pairs.

Looking at things like the mintmark’s position, size, and shape can help spot a fake coin when it’s compared to the real thing. 

Below are 4 different die pairs. In addition to the very identifiable characteristics on the obverse of the 1909 S VDB, the reverse has its own unique feature which is a diagonal crossbar on the “B” of “VDB” located at the bottom 6 o’ clock position.

A Final Word on Counterfeit Coins

This article is a brief introduction to the field of counterfeit coin detection and the basics of spotting them. It is always advisable to purchase particularly rare date or valuable coins already  certified by CAC, PCGS, or NGC. 

Learning how to detect counterfeit coins can take many years of learning, studying, and handling many examples. A coin’s weight, composition, diameter, and thickness can all be indications of authenticity, but extremely high-quality counterfeits may be made to the correct standards.

Need A Second Opinion? Consult the Experts at Archangel Coins

If you have questions about a coin’s authenticity or want help learning how to detect counterfeit coins, the team at Archangel Coins in Las Vegas is here to help.

We offer in-person consultations, coin appraisals, and guidance backed by decades of experience. Bring your questions (and your coins) and we’ll help you navigate the world of collecting with confidence!