Four Morgans - Which is the Fake?

I recently acquired a handful of replica Morgans of various dates and mint marks from a seller on eBay to educate myself on spotting counterfeit coins. Frankly I was surprised at the quality of these coins, which would easily fool an inexperienced collector. Even though purchased from a U.S. seller, none were marked "copy" or "replica" as required by law.

Can you spot the one fake? Click on any pair for a closer view. I've blacked out the mint marks for reasons I'll explain later. I'll provide more details and closer views on the fake coins later, but first let's have a little fun

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Edit:

After rereading your question there is only one fake that would be 3

 

I´d say that number 2 is the fake. I´d like to see it closer, but it looks cast to me.

 

One fake = #3

 

i am going to agree with this one

 

I'm going to say #3...it looks a little off to me.

 

My first thought was number 3. The more I look at number 1, the more I don't like the date and the eagle's head. I'm still very inexperienced so I am interested to see how this thread turns out.

 

I don't like the LIBERTY so I go with #3.

 

Im going to say three. The beak of the eagle appears larger than the other three to me.

 

I don't like the 8's in #2, but overall, #3 definitely looks like the best candidate for a fake.

 

#3, the slant of the nose is off from the rest

 

I'm going against the grain...
Assuming #3's rim is a function of a poorly cropped picture, I would say #4 is the fake. One of the two 9s looks altered. I'd guess you covered the mint mark due to the "micro-O" issue with 1899. Now, if #3 isn't a result of cropping, then #3 is the fake due to the strange lack of a rim.

The reason I picked #4 is the chin looks really flat for a 1879 design Morgan.

 

I have also purchased a few of these for educational purposes. I am going with #4 because the date & denticles look a little strange to me, but after seeing the lack of most of her ear and the eagles right wing tip, I'm almost thinking #3. But, I believe #4 is the fake.The 9s look bogus.

Also I'm going to go out on a limb and say that #4 (or #3, whichever is the fake) has a Carson City mintmark to top it off. Maybe that's why you blacked them out.

 

I' say #3 as well.

 

I'll say #3 as well.

 

The first one that stands out to me is #2 the 1884 due to color etc. but after a closer look the denticles look crappy on #3 and would believe me to think it is the culprit too...

 

Perhaps me old eyes are not seeing the date clearly enough but, I'm going to say number 1 that second 8 looks like a 3 to me... I will stare at it better and perhaps change my feeling...


Edit... Make that 3 after blowing it up a bit better it isn't a 3 but an 8......

 

I completely agree, thats número tres for me.

 

I'm going with #3. Too much luster remaining in the fields for the amount of wear on the devices of that coin.

 

I'm going with my gut...I know everyone says 3, and that right wing tip DOES look odd...but...

#1 just doesn't look right to me.