One of the more frequent errors that bungling counterfeiters make with Pandas is to mix up designs from different years on the same coin. The format of the Temple of Heaven side (obverse) of Pandas changes every few years. Here is an example on eBay that shows a photo of a counterfeit with mismatched designs: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150494841810&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123 I have posted an entire gallery of correct 1 oz. gold Pandas at http://www.pandacollector.com/gold-pandas-1b.html. If you mouse over the coin image the hidden side will appear. Among the earlier years pay attention to the placement of the two stairways on the side. Spotting a fake is very easy if the wrong Temple format is used. Unfortunately, people keep bidding on fakes and wasting their money. Best wishes, Peter Anthony http://www.pandacollector.com
Peter do these counterfeiters use real gold? I mean if so this guy sold it for a loss. 1oz gold + labor forging this coin = almost $800 in loss. IDK just wondering
In most, if not all, cases the coin is gold plated. Here is a fake that's been sawed in half to show what's inside. Some of the plating smeared when the coin was cut; the entire core is made of a white colored metal. More on this image is at http://www.pandacollector.com/rogue.html Best wishes, Peter Anthony http://www.pandacollector.com
These fakes are worthless!!! The counterfeiter's profit comes from using very cheap metals – not gold or silver – and adding a few cents worth of plating. Only if a coin is numismatically rare and worth way more than melt value might a counterfeiter fabricate it with the real stuff. The buyer always loses. Best wishes, Peter Anthony http://www.pandacollector.com
The "coin" was less than .1 gram off of official weight. Best wishes, Peter Anthony http://www.pandacollector.com
The counterfeiter may have made the coin thicker so it would weigh within tolerance. A specific gravity test would tell you the coin is not genuine.
Agreed, that would probably do it. The quickest clue, though, is that the details of the design are inaccurate; for instance, the lettering is the wrong size. A generous collector passed this fake coin on to me to use as an example. There now are comparison photos of a genuine coin vs. one of these fakes on the Bad Bears/Counterfeits page (see Give No Quarter). Best wishes, Peter Anthony http://www.pandacollector.com P.S. If anyone else has counterfeit Pandas they would like the world to see, please contact me. I will photograph them and post the information. Thanks.
Actually I think that is correct. Some fake pandas could be right on the weight and wrong on the diameter and thickness. Other fake pandas could be right on the diameter and thickness and he weight could be way off (by much more than 0.1 gram of the official weight). It is best to weigh the panda and to measure the diameter and thickness. Ebay has a bad reputation of Chinese ebay sellers selling not only fake Pandas but also other fake coins. It is best to stay away from ebay when it comes to Pandas because ebay seems to either not care or cannot do anything about it. If a person wants to buy a gold or silver Panda, then it is best to buy that Panda from a local dealer with a good reputation or from a highly reputable online dealer such as APMEX.
Last time I read the conditions Buyer Protection was provided for 45 days from the sale date. If you can confirm that a coin (or anything else) is counterfeit in that time period eBay will probably cover you. After that you're on your own. Remember, the meter starts running on the sale date so if your coin takes 3 weeks to arrive you only have another 3 1/2 weeks to determine authenticity. If you order from overseas and the item arrives in 6 weeks the protection will be fleeting. Best wishes, Peter Anthony http://www.pandacollector.com
I'd assume then that eBay would also require a professional certification that said coin in question was a fake.. Thus not worth it as you still would lose money confirming what you already know.. a lot of money
I was checking out this coin on eBay, and based on this forum and your picture I am concerned about this coin. I see differences in the coin that is for sales, especially in the temple. Buyer beware! Look at this on eBay 1987-Y 1 oz. Gold Chinese Panda Coin - Sealed In Plastic Todd