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Message:: [QUOTE="Insider, post: 8143310, member: 24314"]I'll reply more later.  For now, I couldn't find the threads that Doug provided in the "Portal."  <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie3" alt=":(" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />  Thanks all for your help. Yes, I was the "rookie authenticator" in the CU thread and the first to detect the "Omega" fakes.  At the time I joined CU, I was posting as an unknown because it is hard to toot-your-own-horn w/o looking like a know-it-all as some here still believe. The parts in red are nonsensical, made-up "fluff:" NewFrom a 2011 CU thread: Omega Man Counterfeiter...In the early 1970’s, ANACS (American Numismatic Association Certification Service) noticed an unusually high number of “high relief” coins entering the market. High relief coins are coins that are struck multiple times to produce extremely clear, concise contours. Suspicious that an unusually high quality counterfeiter could be the culprit, they began careful examination of the coins. If it weren’t for a minute “omega” symbol in the claw of the eagle on the coin, they would have never known they were counterfeits. Like paper money, coins are often counterfeited. In almost all cases, they are very easy to spot, especially by expert coin examiners such as ANACS, using high magnification lenses and microscopic equipment. These counterfeit coins are often molded rather than struck with a press such as those used by United States mints to produce American coinage. The molded varieties always leave tell-tale signs that they are a fake. Bubbles and unusual markings that could not possibly be produced with a coin press are dead giveaways that they are fakes. The Omega coins on the other hand, are indistinguishable from the real thing. The counterfeiter was dubbed the Omega Man. It is believed that his coins are identical to the real thing except for the omega symbol that he arrogantly leaves as his trademark. The symbol is not visible to the naked high and can only be seen under high magnifcation. In most cases the omega symbol was placed near the eagle's claw on the back of the coin but in at least two cases the symbol was placed within the upper loop of the "R" in the word "liberty" on the front of the coin. It is believed that the Omega Man has created over 20,000 fake 1907 ultra high-relief United States $20 gold Double Eagle coins worth well over $300 million dollars. His forgeries are of such a high quality that collectors will pay in excess of $1,000 for a single counterfeit coin (the real coins retail for nearly $100,000). The Omega man also counterfeit other US coins including a large quantity of $3 gold pieces, dated 1874, 1878, and 1882 (with the 1882 version being the most prevelent). He is also counterfeited $10 gold pieces, the 1913-P and 1926-P, both of which have the “Omega” placed upside down within the upper loop of the “R” in “Liberty” in the Indian’s headdress.The identity of the Omega Man is still unknown. As you can see, this is the kind of CRAP anyone can post and folks believe it!  For example, the 20K figure was entirely made up by the producers of "Secrets of the U.S. Mint" for a TV show where I was interviewed about these coins.[/QUOTE]

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