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.
@Insider, It occurred to me after posting that the statement, "Look for casting bubbles on the surfaces" might have been misinterpreted by both you and I, and possibly by others as well. It's not only possible, but plausible that gas pockets might be exposed at the surface of a coin struck on a blank made from a cast billet that had not been degassed. Therefore, I am backing away from the notion that the writer of the above statement is necessarily uneducated.
Is there something peculiar or specific to "cast counterfeits" different than regular counterfeits ? I thought there were lots of sub-1 ounce pre-1933 gold coins that WERE in fact counterfeit...not sure about this "cast" thing but maybe someone can clear this up for me ?
