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Message:: [QUOTE="imrich, post: 1621903, member: 22331"]Cheap Fakes Are Easily Detected I don't believe you need be concerned about fake half dollars, as they are easily detected by a rare earth magnet, and the coin edge is abnormally obvious to the naked eye of an average viewer. The weight of "copies" generally would vary enough from the 12.5 gram specification that they could be detected with an inexpensive electronic scale. I personally haven't viewed, nor heard of, any copy common silver half dollars or dimes. The inexpensive copy Silver dollars can be easily detected as previously stated because they are generally produced from inexpensive ferrous metal composition. The 90% copies of semi-key and key dates are sold at multiples of "junk Silver" coin cost, because they are worth at least the Silver content, and are usually quality replicas. I've a large collection of the 90% Silver dollar struck (versus cast) replicas, having personally examined same in depth, doubting that the average collector would detect a difference. Modern replicating technology, the fact that copies are often struck on the surplus impact machinery originally used for U.S. production, material being melted scrap coins, generally precludes counterfeit determination. Even a submission of a "copy" coin to a "Top Tier TPG" may result in a "Questionable Authenticity" return response. JMHO :thumb:[/QUOTE]