ANA Collection's Counterfeits and Altered Coins

I must admit, it has been great working in the ANA's collection this summer. The past few days, we have been cleaning up parts of the collection, including the counterfeit collection. The ANA has these counterfeits for educational purposes, as well as to take them off of the market. I have seen a wide variety of counterfeits including the 1909-S VDB, 1914-D Lincolns, Trade Dollars, Buffalos with added mintmarks, Bust Dollars, and many more.

There was a 1916-S Bufalo in an old ANA Official Grading Service Holder that was later proven to be an masterfully added mintmark. There was also an ultra-grade (65/66) 1926-S that was an added mintmark. The first giveaway on the 1926-S was that it was a crisp, strong strike, something that date just doesn't have......unless its a Philly coin with an added S.

The most interesting thing I saw, was a complete type set of mostly contemporary counterfeit coins, including many coins one normally doesn't see counterfeited. I saw fake 3 cent silvers, fake Franklins, fake Walkers, fake common Indian cents, fake Busties, and more. There was a contemporary counterfeit of a 1921 Philly Lincoln Wheat Cent....I can honestly saw I had never seen that coin faked before. I even saw an amazing electrotype of an 1804 cent that had all of the proper alignment of the obverse and reverse.......just a nice seam along the edge. :rolling:

I have learned a ton about counterfeit and altered coins just by looking at this incredible collection.

 

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That must have been a blast!
Did they have a fake 1967 quarter?

(I know someone who has one.)

 

Where do they put that collection on display? And do you think they will ever digitalize their library?

Ruben

 

that must be something to behold, I've only seen a few counterfeits in my time.

 

The library catalog is digitalized at www.money.org But to digitalized every book in there? That would take people, time, and resources that the ANA just doesn't have right now. Also, they do not display the counterfeit collection at the moment.

 

Cool. Are you getting paid to help out???

 

Yes, the interns do get paid a small stipend to help out at the ANA.

 

There were a couple contemporary counterfeit quarters, including a 1965. I don't remember seeing a 67 though.

 

Room, board, and a little cash for the pocket. Sounds like a neat summer job.

 

Oh, its great! (I'm the other intern). Only problem is, with the wide array of coin shops, etc around here.. that stipend doesn't last very long. Lol.

 

Where are they? Generaly there aren't many in New York.

Ruben

 

Ruben:
They are talking about the ANA headquarters:
ANA Headquarters
818 North Cascade Avenue
Colorado Springs, CO 80903

Phone: 719-632-2646
Fax: 719-634-4085
Email: ana@money.org

 

I thought the ANA was on William Street

Ruben

 

Isn't that the ANS?

Speedy

 

The ANS is on Fulton Street in New York, even though their was a recent article about them selling their building.

The ANA is located in Colorado Springs, CO.

 

I came across an Omega counter fit double eagle at a coin show a couple weeks ago. I had never seen one before, and it was very interesting to see the dealers reaction when a fourteen year old kid told him a double eagle was fake.

 

They are?

 

Oh wow, never knew that! Thanks for the info!