We need to start holding these people accountable, but how? This kind of stuff will do damage to the hobby. Counterfeit Coin - Fake 1885-CC Morgan Dollar in Fake GSA Holder (coinweek.com)
Counterfeiting does have the potential to greatly damage this hobby / industry -- which to be honest its doing already. More needs to be done to stop these coins from coming to market.
Another member has been very informative concerning raising awareness of counterfeiting in numismatics (and theft). It is nice to read that other members agree it is a timely issue and should be addressed by all hobbyists.
To be fair, the Chinese coin market is absolutely inundated with counterfeits, orders of magnitude more than US coins, but the Chinese coin market is stronger than it has ever been. I don’t see a market collapse due to the counterfeit problem.
The best way to combat the problem of counterfeits is to provide collectors with the knowledge and tools to be able to determine if a coin and/or slab are authentic. This is what I focus on. The second best way is to enact AND ENFORCE stronger penalties for counterfeiting and knowingly selling counterfeits. The third best way would be to eliminate human greed, but that is impossible.
GSA holders were being faked basically around the same time they started to appear!!!!which was like 40 years ago,nothing new about this.
I agree with most of what you’re saying, though for Joe-average person wanting to start collecting it’s hard to give him or her that knowledge right off the bat that will allow them with greater confidence to buy non-counterfeit coins. They just won’t know. But unfortunately, once burned, I’d imagine they’d have a hard time sticking with the hobby. Even speaking for myself, if I get burned a couple of times, I might pull up stakes and find another item to collect. Why spend significant money on things that might end up being fake?
potty dollar 1878, posted: "GSA holders were being faked basically around the same time they started to appear!!!!which was like 40 years ago,nothing new about this. In the spirit of the coming Season... I believe this posting needs to be - shall I say, looked into.
There are fakes of literally every collectible. Cards, cars, toys, minerals, fossils, stamps, signs, purses, glassware, etc. So why collect anything because there is a possibility that it might be fake? It is the collector’s responsibility to seek the knowledge and resources to determine authentic from fake in the area they choose to collect before shelling out lots of money.
It seems obvious, unless the potential buyer is a skilled and knowledgeable collector, that it is foolhardy to purchase a raw (or uncertified GSA holder) Morgan silver dollar. Even the certified Morgans may be counterfeit! Even the most prestigious auction houses have been victims of counterfeit Morgans. In fact, I read recently that there are occasions that the best TPG's have been fooled, although few and far between. It's just a matter of relying on a trusted dealer and/or the best auction houses and hope for the best. Ironically purchasing Morgans on e-Bay does safeguard the purchaser within limits. When purchased, take the Morgan to a trusted dealer or mail it off to NGC, PGCS, ANACS, or ICG to confirm authenticity. Time frames are important though.
As a Member across the river at NS , we have a member by the screen name of "Fake Canada" Mike was so passionate about this subject of counterfeit goods and products he lobbied the Canadian parliament to pass some of the strictest laws to protect not only the hobby, the citizens, and his country in general. Not to start anything potical ,but we need to have a voice heard to stop this sort of garbage from infecting our hobby. Mike worked long and hard to get laws passed to protect Canadian coinage, as well fake items watches, ladies hand bags, make up etc... Unfortunately we don't have Mike to champion our cause, but you have a voice to be heard...write your representatives and voice your concerns. The squeaky wheel gets the grease... start squeaking. Mike screen name Fake Canada was his first step to making others aware how much this sort of garbage effects us all.
I added pictures of this thing to the opening of my next program at my local club. This is disturbing, but it's no surprise. The crooks are copying everything that they can sell.
Although, this has nothing to do with coins directly, but one of the most counterfeited its, are blue jeans. Women's wear as well as purses, etc. People want to be in style, but can't afford Levis, name brand purses, etc., so they buy items being sold on the internet. Many don't care as long as it looks like... Clothing stores sell "lookalikes" that are being bought everyday. Coins and currency are natural new items. ebay probably sells counterfeit items all the time. Many items are counterfeit and the buyers on ebay don't care. I don't have any evidence in my pocket, but I have seen it over and over on the internet. Many things are noted to be "copies" even coins.
Just a point of reference, 2013: https://www.coinworld.com/news/precious-metals/counterfeit-1881-cc-dollar-appears-in-fabrica.html