whom here thinks they got the skills to spot counterfeits , if your the average coin collector you have some basic knowledge about these things. and unless your a major dealer profession-ed at spoting counterfeits or someone whom can afford a metallurgical scanner gun you azzd out.. so with crap like this http://www.ozcopper.com/fake-silver-warning/ all i got to say is get your skills up
How do I turn on subtitles for a post? And I don't want to say that the linked site is unreliable, but what exactly is this "Ao" that constitutes 0.267% of the coin?
Just like with anything else, make your purchases from trusted and respected dealers and you have little to worry about
Doug, based on the video do you think most dealers would catch that fake maple leaf? I do not think the biggest dealer near me would catch it.
Probably not, but it doesn't matter. Smart dealers only buy stuff where they have a recourse too. But even for those times when they don't have a recourse, you still do if you buy from them. For their reputation means enough that they'll refund you your money, even if it means a loss for them.
If the dealer doesn't realize it, the buyer is not likely to either unless it is sent off to be graded. I would agree that if the issue is identified quick enough the local dealer would eat it in a heart beat. Just drives home the message get educated before you start buying what you might consider a significant purchase.
I love posts like these. No matter how good we may be at spotting counterfeits and how much we think we already know, we could all benefit from even more knowledge on this topic. -Chris
Okay, I know I should let this go, but it eats at me every time this thread comes back up on the Recent list. As best I can tell, this means something like "unless you're a major dealer with professional skill at spotting counterfeits, or someone who can afford a metallurgical scanner gun [AES, X-ray, or neutron activation, I guess?]..." Can someone please explain to me what "you azzd out" is supposed to mean? I try not to rag on people for spelling and grammar, but come on...
There are many ways to identify whether that suspect coin is a fake: Check the coin's dimensions and weight. Ensure the coin design matches (most fake pandas' fail on this test) be sure to check the edges is it reeded vs smooth or any lettering on there. Also you can use a digital camera and snag high resolution picture and compare it with images of the actual coin. Put on your cotton glove and do the feel test. It helps when you real coin to validate against. Using a loupe check the coin edges to see any tell tell signs of plating and mint marks. Using a high powered magnet check and see if the coin is magnetic. Also you can perform the magnetic slide test.
I don't think that coin was electroplated but when item is electroplated often on sides plating may not be fully applied.
I bet they would fail the magnetic slide, or at least be noticeably off from a genuine comparison piece. The SG is good, but a bit too bulky, tedious and time consuming IMO.
While I agree that finding the right dealer helps a lot, I never buy bars or rounds. I can get coins just as easily and have a better chance of spotting the fakes, hopefully. I know there are many counterfeit coins, but most of those can be spotted if you look closely enough. And if it's suspect even a tiny bit, you can keep your money in your wallet. Ingots and rounds are not that familiar to me. To be safer, I try to stay with what I know a bit better. You never have to buy an item. It's really easy to pass things over for something you are truly comfortable with. Even from a known and trusted dealer. IMHO gary
