marking known fakes with the word "copy"

If a dealer were to find themselves to be inadvertantly in possession of a "few" fake, forged or all-too convincing modern counterfeit coins, and he or she wished to prevent these well-made copies from re-entering the market as the real thing and also be able to legally resell them, how would said dealer go about engraving or counterstamping the word "copy" into them? Is there a readily available solution, such as a pre-made punch, or would one need to spend the time and effort to individually engrave each letter by hand?

What's the best solution?

 

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Maybe those "COPY" punch tools made for keys could work just as well?

 

Pretty sure that is what they use for marking copy coins

 

I returned a fake silver coin to a seller on eBay and they promptly turned around and sold it again. The coin looked good in seller's photos but was 3 grams too light .

 

I like @JeffC solution. I think a simple Dremel tool would get the job done as well.

 

Kind of ruins the coin if it's a collectible copy or fake of a coin, I mean who in their right mind is gonna engrave or dremel a Henning Nickel?
Private sale between idividuals, and be clear on what it is, or simply eat the loss.

I guess you could stamp it "COPY" to sell it and be in compliance with the law from your shop, but I'm pretty sure a counterfeit coin collector isn't going to be interested in one that's been marked, as they would be with one with originality.

 

I would agree..... I have something of a contemporary 1916-D counterfeit dime. It is actually very well done (added D). I use it to plug the hole in my dime book because my genuine piece is slabbed and I loathe empty holes in coin books. Now, I have a deal set up with my coin dealer buddy and my wife knows to carry all my beloved coins to him when I leave the party. I have a post-it note in the book stating that the 16-D is counterfeit. I know he is an honorable fellow and will not allow the piece to circulate in the coin community.... But you are correct. When I view the book, I don't want to see something engraved on the coin.

 

While I thoroughly agree that a fake needs to be clarified as a fake, I would leave it to the experts. It would be very easy to mark a coin as a fake, and be a big problem if the practice becomes second nature. Especially if the one marking the coin does not understand die marriages. This practice could get out of hand very quick.

 

LOL, just thinking what if "The Quarter Master" decides to counter stamp coins with a "Copy" punch.....what if a bunch of folks did that to genuine coins...

What a mess!

 

The COPY requirement only applies to copies made after 1973, so old contemporary counterfeits can legally be sold unmarked, as long as there no fraud intended in the sale. So if it is being sold as a counterfeit there is no fraudulent intent.

 

To clarify, I purchased a couple hundred fake Chinese/Hong Kong late 18th- early 20th century 20 cent pieces. They look very convincing (no seams or casting bubbles) but are magnetic. I intended to keep one of each of the several varieties and maybe turn the rest into jewelry or sell them as copies, but they aren't marked. If placed in jewelry, they may be removed at any time and be easily confused with the genuine article, so all 200+ (aside from the handful I keep) would need to be marked. This would be a huge job to dremel each letter individually, but the key stamper looks promising. Thanks! o you a link to a seller? If not, I can search around.

 

What is the point of marking these? Take a hammer to each one if you don't want them on the market anymore.. Melt them.
Putting the word copy on them isn't going to stop the thousands/millions that are easily found on allibaba alone.
Do better research next time so these counterfeiters/peddlers don't make a profit. There are many ways of quelling the problem. Without creating a future problem.

 

Found it, and for "oooonly" $63.95 shipped.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Coin-Marking-Punch-Stamp-reads-COPY-Metal-Marking-Punch-/153749681925

 

They didn't cost me much at all, so I rather suspected they were probably fake before I got them near the magnet. I just hadn't considered how difficult it would be to mark them properly. I can't do anything about what they do on allibaba, but I won't let the ones have go out unmarked. Short of physically destroying them by taking the hammer to them directly, that's the best I can do.

 

I just think that your intentions are futile. We all have bought fakes, at one time or another. You got taken by not doing enough research, study is the key. You bought fakes and now you want to unload them on the public. Why? There is no use for these, or to buy a punch. Just keep them or destroy them.

 

The hobby protection act was written into law in 1973 (16 CFR 304), it doesn't mean that 1973 is a cut off date for marking copies.

 

I have a gold Liberty Head on a gold chain as jewelry with "copy" on the reverse from Malaysia.

 

And if you brought them into this contry you committed a crime.

From the act

SEC. 8. This Act shall apply only to imitation political items and imitation numismatic items manufactured after the date of enactment of this Act.

Approved November 29, 1973.

So anything made after 1973 has to be marked, anything made before 1973 does NOT have to be marked.

 

Not a crime but real 22k gold. Also I did not buy this. It was given to me because I collect coins. It is jewelry with good value.

 

capthank, your gold Liberty head is perfectly legal as it is marked, Moe Wilders bringing in several hundred fake Hong Kong 20 cent pieces was illegal. (If he actually brought them, or had them shipped into the US.)