like gold panda and buffalo. I'm just curious. I asked an online dealer and the answer I got was they have professionals doing it.
That's a pretty good answer. Having grading companies such as PCGS or NGC authenticating your coins is about as good as it gets.
I inquired whether a 1990 panda, still sealed in original package, came directly from the mint. The dealer said they can't be sure. I then asked how they authenticate coins from 3rd party since they can't take it out and measure, weight, acid test, etc. The coin is not graded.
It is hard to say. To be completely sure it would probably have to be removed from it's packaging. I have seen counterfeit pandas in packaging that to me was indistinguishable from the original packaging. The only way these were determined to be counterfeits was the weight of the total package coin, plastic, and all was off quite a bit. It was then removed and tested only to find it was counterfeit.
In the case of the Panda, there is a significant value add if the coin is still in it's original packaging as released by one of the Chinese mints.
i always go to the curator of coins at manchester university museum, he is a seasoned collector himself amd runs all the relevant tests to authenticate any coins.
