Not Genuine - 1867 Victoria Dollar from Hong Kong

This 1867 Victoria Dollar from Hong Kong has been in my collection for a bit of time and I finally sent it in for grading...

I was surprised when I received this coin back from NGC today with the flag of "Not Genuine".

The coin's weight is 26.8g right on the low side of what NGC advises (Note: Struck at the Hong Kong Mint. Weight varies: 26.9568-27.2500 grams.)

NGC provides no feedback, they just return the coin. I do recognize that this is a frequently counterfeited coin however I don't see how they came to their conclusion.

For reference:

• Numista
• PCGS
• NGC

Can anyone provide me with some pointers on how to go about researching the authenticity of the coin? it's not magnetic, its size is correct, and I don't see any inconsistent or incorrect marking... <I am not a grading professional>

 

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I do see questionable areas such as the "Q" on the obverse and the top rim on the reverse



from PCGS:

 

I guess you can really see the problem in this comparison (line to the right of 'N' extending to the edge of the counterfeit coin):

PCGS:




Counterfeit:

OK --no need to respond. It's a fake. But if anyone else wants a worse fake there is one on eBay

 

As a dealer, I have had to assess in bulk for some time. Sometimes (as in this case), I just have an initial gut reaction of 'that is off,' and think about what triggered that response later. In this case, it was the odd patina, paired with the general softness of the devices.

 

Also, look at the denticles in the above photos. These are the toothlike patterns running next to the rim. On the OP coin they are very irregular, rather mushy and uneven compared to the genuine example. That's a yellow flag to me.

 

With Chinese fakes of Canada Victoria large cents and Vicky silver, the fakes can usually be easily seen in the lettering, especially the shape and size of the serifs. These on the OP's coin stand out easily.

 

ouch OP, this is why when I was collecting, I stuck to slabbed coins, your out of money since its a fake which sucks as this coin is worth quite a bit of money.

 

It’s been over a year but I’ve reminded the group I purchased it from about the Hobby Protection Act - working on getting my money back