Anyone know any good ways to spot a fake 1885 v nickel? I just bought one and a very low price. The coin has had a harsh cleaning and prous, but despite the problems I got it for a low price of only $100 from a reputible dealer I have done business with in the past. which I still find to be a good deal. I was wondering if anyone knows any good ways to determine authenticity. Its weight of 4.3 grams seems consistant with the extensive wear on it. The fonts appear correct thoughout the coin under the 10x. The fact that it was cleaned gives credibility to the fact that its more likely genuine. Also a magnet had no effect on the coin. Another other ways I may have missed? Here is a pic of the coin for those of you to take a look at. Any opinions from those that know better then me are welcome.
Sorry I couldn't find any diagnostics on your '85 nickels in the three books I have about the only thing I can suggest is to di a specific gravity test and that only tells you it's not genuine if it's off . rzage
WOW I think that was awesome of you just to look! Many thanks for that!! Your efforts are greatly appreciated!!
Given the condition, $100 is a reasonable price for the coin, assuming it's authentic. If it is a fake, it would be a genuine Liberty nickel with altered date, most likely. I'd compare your coins with photos of the genuine article in higher grades and see if it matches. I don't own one, so I don't know if the '5' looks funny or not. But if you got it from a reputable dealer, I hope the dealer can stand by it.
Just about all the people on CT would do the same , it might take a day for the right people to see your thread , but chances are it's legit if from a well known dealer , and if it's not they will at least give you your money back . rzage:smile
I thought the same and thats why I checked the font on the date spacifically the 5. Everything seems correced when compared to pics I saw online of pcgs coins. Someone would have gone though a lot of trouble to alter the date on that one. Since all digits on the coin follow the same wear pattern and porsoity. Especially the 5 on this coin as a unique look to it with the curl of the 5 being fatter and then finishing off in a curl. Thats correct. The odds of someone getting the digits correct are slim especially when they matched the porosite perfectly. I would also thing that instead of cleaning it an artificial tone would be used to hide the handy work. Also the probably would have found a better conditioned coin to alter
The date looks really wrong to me. It doesn't look good at all. I would guess altered date from an 1905 and then messed up to make it look more genuine. Those 8's are just to funky looking for me.
Good eyes :thumb:, The eights sure look different than the 1885s on Heratige , I was spending more time looking at the 5 and not the eights , never thinking ot an altered 1905 , I believe you're right , hope were're wrong though . rzage
