Counterfeiting American Silver Eagles?

So I have this empty ASE tube just sitting here. I am tempted to begin slowly filling it up. However, I am concerned that silver Eagles have no major security features to make them difficult to counterfeit. On the other hand, Silver Maple Leafs have radial lines and they have a privy mark with the year in very tiny detail, which is next to impossible to counterfeit.

Is counterfeiting a problem at all for Silver Eagles? I am very hesitant to buy any due to lack of security features.

 

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Buy online from a reputable dealer and you'll be fine. They're cheaper that way too.

 

That's only half the issue. I'm not so concerned about buying them from a reputable dealer. The other half of the issue is that if ASE can be counterfeited, then reselling them in the future will be harder to do to a third party who would need to verify them from me.

This is not an issue for Maple Leafs from the last few years.

 

I've never had a problem selling to a third party with ASE's. The Regular Public and dealers didn't even blink an eye. AGE's are a different story. 1 ounce of silver is not a high profile target for counterfeiting. Have you sold silver before? Did you have a bad experience?

 

If you're that worried about counterfeiting, then your first priority should be to learn as much as you can about the design of the SAE's.

Chris

 

Edited ~ Watch the language Please. I could just buy bullion with high security features instead, like the Silver Maple Leaf. I just don't understand why the ASE lacks major security features. I am also curious how prevalent counterfeiting of them is.

 

If that's the case just buy Maples then. No big deal, Maples are nice coins. Except for the occasional Milk spot.

 

Then buy Maple Leafs and move on.

 

Don't complain, then!

Chris

 

For all the fancy security measures Maple leafs have, I've seen more fakes of them than ASE's. Also when selling most dealers are going to offer you spot for Maple leafs while ASE's usually retain a premium.

 

Yes, but none of those fakes are counterfeits of bullion from the last few years. The radial lines and privy marks are near impossible to counterfeit.

I would like to be able to fill a tube of silver Eagles, but I won't if I find out counterfeits are prevalent. Certainly in seems very possible. But in the real world, how common is it?

 

Not very if you're doing your due diligence before purchasing and not buying from shady venues where fake stuff is common like some flea markets.

 

For Pete's sake...he's not worried about buying them he's worried about selling them to third parties. Are there enough counterfeits out there such that he'll have a hard time selling them because he can't prove their authenticity?

 

This is the same OP that thought silver stackers were idiots and gold stackers were wiser.

 

I think you are over thinking this. As stated by B-Man that if you buy from a reputable dealer then your worries about counterfeiting is about none. I really have not seen any counterfeited silver eagles in all the years I have been purchasing them.

Try to buy one or two from Provident or Apmex and when you get them try doing some of the authenticity tests on them. There are a some tests that can prove if the coin is fake or not. A piece of tissue paper laid over a .999 pure silver coin will glow through the tissue with a whitish circle. Second you can try the ping test. Third you can weigh it and have it measured. If you don't have a scale or the tool to measure it every LCS will be happy to do it for you. I know there are a few more tests but they allude me right now. Do a tiny bit of research and get informed to calm your concerns.

 

Way to simplify that thread down in order to whine and be offended by it. Stop being so sensitive. Good God!

 

I do three test for mine. Ping test, magnet test, (you will feel a resistance when hovering and sliding the magnet over the coin, and weigh it. If all three of those check out, 99.9% sure its real. Like said before, ASE's are what 20 bucks? Its not likely people will counterfeit them because there is not much money to be made. That's what you see counterfeits on coins with key dates and rarity because those are the ones that bring the premium.

 

Ever watch a dealer buying bullion at a coin show? They count and perhaps carefully eyeball for an obvious bad one, but I saw one buy 100 ASE in less than 2 minutes. Foreign silver coins take much longer or are not accepted by the dealer. If you are stacking silver to sell, I mean really let it go some day, maybe for an emergency, I would stick with ASE or AGE. Those that use it as an excuse to buy and hold, then just enjoy them.

 

Ping test works great for eagles. Silver makes a very distinct sound. Also you probably won't damage the rim doing so unless you really smack it. It doesn't take a very hard hit to get the ring. Also as other have mentioned, do some research on the coin. They are very popular and there is a ton of good info online. The mint has made slight changes over the years. IIRC 2007 was the biggest alteration with the tail on the U changing. The older Eagles are also shinier. Counterfeits would probably most likely be 86, 96, and 2000.