One of these coins is a counterfeit!

The coin on the right has a deep bagmark/gouge...for some reason, the coin on the left doesn't.

The coin on the right has some nose abrasions, the one on the left doesn't.

The coin on the right is "drooling" from his lower-lip but the one on the left isn't probably because the image is cut off a bit.

The "L" in LIBERTY on the left has some crack in it...the one on the right doesn't.

The one on the left has some bright spike in the forehead; the one on the right doesn't.

The one on the right seems to have legit bagmarks but both could have been circulated because their fields each look like a kid with a crayon doodled in the fields and someone then wiped it clean.

 

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Details look flat on the left coin.
Field looks ruff on the right coin.

Is there going to be a Left or Right poll to quiz us?

 

How the heck are you seeing die flow and luster from pics that are barely above B&W ?

 

If you take a look you can see the die flow, or lack of. The color shouldn't matter.

 

Since we have some time before Insider chimes in, can you explain how to look for "die flow" ?

I guess the questions are: what is it, how does it look in the fields, and how does a real coin differ from a counterfeit on the issue of die flow ?

 

Well die flow is more the way the metal planchet moves as it is struck under pressure.
The flat surfaces or fields are the area to look.
The surfaces towards the center next to the main design are the highest points on the die.
And contact the planchet first. The metal has to go somewhere and it is forced to the less restricted areas until the strike has completed.
This causes a radial look in the meta, it is also the luster we associate to a MS coin.

 

That helps, thanks P&G !!

Does anybody have good side-by-side pics to show what P&G poste above ? Proper die flow from a legit (gold) coin....maybe improper from a fake ?

 

Where‘s the guy always asking for „full pictures of the coin, both sides please?“ :-D

 

Can't help Ya Goldfinger.
But we are past the two days, wonder what happened to @Insider

 

I'm sure he'll circle back.

 

I APOLOGIZE, everyone was posting great replies that I almost forgot about this.

Goldfinger did a pretty good job on part one by posting what he saw. The most important difference is the sharpness of the genuine and the lower relief of the fake. Several members already answered part two. which is which.

Then he asks:"Does anybody have good side-by-side pics to show what P&G poste above? Proper die flow from a legit (gold) coin-maybe improper from a fake?"

I don't believe aanything we could call "improper die flow" exists. At least I have not seen any characteristic I would describe that way. Die flow is seen on virtually all die struck coins. Sometimes, you might need a hige power of magnification to see it. It is most often easily seen near the rim of a coin. I'll post an image but I suggest this member look at a few of his $20 gold coins. A $5 Liberty would work too.

 

I thought this was a very good quiz. Thanks, Insider.

 

Thanks for this thread, Insider, I learned a few things.

Are you going to tell us which coin is counterfeit and WHY (i.e., what would be the #1 tell) ?