Prepare to Die From Jealousy

My latest purchase.
No, it isn't for sale at any price.



I find myself inspired by the recent featured article on fraudulent coins. (1)
Outside of a couple of very basic tests I wouldn't know a counterfeit coin if you drilled a hole in it and hung it around my neck. So I'm kicking around starting with 1921 Peace Dollars - and doing some research into methods for identifying real vs. fake.

That whole process begins with getting some real ones in different grades.
So far, the only thing I've noticed is that these wear quite differently around the rims.
I'll be comparing these against well worn 22's and 23's that I own - I'll post pictures at some point.

I'd like to reduce my chances of buying fakes.


NOTES
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1: See: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/1797-s-139-large-cent-suspect-examples-and-initial-research.319271/

 

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I can sympathize to your fear of phony coins that have been so prevalent in our hobby. I'll just say this..... I been collecting close to fifty years. And I am probably the least numismatically educated here among the forum brethren. I have come to trust the following things when it comes to fakes.

• If there is the slightest indifference or red flag sounding in your head. It is almost certainly a phony.
• I have yet to see a portrait perfectly recreated on a fake. Mind you, the criminals are getting better all the time. But personally I have not seen a portrait perfectly recreated.
• This is the most telling identifier to me... The toning on classic forgeries almost always appears perfectly "sprayed on" somehow.
• The "sprayed look" toning in combination with the imperfect portraits immediately bring a cartoonish appearance in my mind.

Now again, I am probably the least educated here on the forum and I am quite confident in my ability to spot a fake. Now these rules don't apply to all coins in my mind. Old coppers and gold are different. My collecting doesn't include old coppers and I buy my gold from reliable sources. But as far as the routine day in day out stuff. It doesn't take me but a second to sniff out a fake using the standards I mentioned above.

 

The 1921 HR Peace is an animal onto itself. Unlike anything else.

 

I thought I'd start with the odd duck in the series.
In addition to the certified coins I'd like to put together a small collection of fakes to study.

 

Milli Vanilli?

 

I've reported this post to management.

 

Surely you jest...

Hey, just blame it on the rain...

 

I've also reported this post to management.
I received this response:

"Citizen,
Both Bellman and BooksB4Coins have been under review for quite some time. Thank you for submitting additional information to be included in their case files. BTW, How much for that Peace Dollar?

-Mngmt."

 

My apologies, young fellow. I didn't realize I was speaking to a child incapable of understanding an obvious joke.

 

What's the avatar for laughing my backside off????

 

Oh I thought that was a joke in response!!

 

Reported.

 

Why I outta.........

 

You know I have two cats that would be just too glad to deal with the likes of you.

 

This could apply to s-o-o-o-o-o-o many different entities. I'm a "marked man" all over the place.

 

First, they came for Kurt Bellman, but I just laughed...

 

Yup, we missed you, too. Did you at least get a tan during your vacation?

 

Prepare to Die From Jealousy