I read this reply concerning Indian $2 1/2 & $5 counterfeits on another forum tonight: "The counterfeits made in the late 1970s/early 1980s were usually of full weight and proper composition. [By the mid-80's this was mostly true] Many were apparently made from gold obtained by melting down genuine $10 & $20 gold coins. [LOL, whomever made this story up deserves one of those Pulitzer Prizes the lying media got] Look for casting bubbles on the surfaces. These were well made counterfeits ..." Folks, I can count on one hand the number of CAST COUNTERFEIT gold Indian coins I've ever seen! However, this myth was started in the 60's and 70's because one famous authenticator at the time was telling everyone that the earliest die struck coins in the market were casts - IN ERROR. I can't post there but thankfully someone wrote that any deceptive C/F's were die struck. AFAIK, educated people don't believe everything they read (including this). They learn to check things out for themselves.
