I'm attempting to hone my skills at detecting fake Morgans, being concerned with the alarming proliferation of Chinese counterfeits. My exposure has been limited to a couple of batches of medium-quality fakes I recently purchased (as copies) on eBay. My question is directed to those who have seen more fakes than I. I have noticed on all my real Morgans that the "M" designer's mark at the base of Miss Liberty's neck, when viewed at about 30 degree angle is always crisp and sharp, even on highly worn G and VG samples. However, on all the fakes, the "M" is dull and ill-defined, even when other features appear genuine. Realizing that dedicated counterfeiters might not overlook this small detail, what has been your experience regarding the "M" mark on better fakes? Might this be a reliable indicator?
I would have to say no because even on some genuine coins the M is not always sharp and clear. And I suspect on the fakes you are talking about if the M is not sharp and clear then other details are not sharp and clear either. So if you want to use the M as a starting point, that might work. But you will need other things to confirm it because of what I mentioned above.
I agree. Your time is better spent learning what counterfeits look like and methods of detection. Cast vs. die made, weight and size, magnetic or not and maybe a few typical areas of weakness like dentils and rims. You will not find one weakness common to all. There are some good reference books on counterfeits and even some seminars you might look into. Lance.
Great advice given. I may add that the best way to learn a counterfeit coin is to learn what the real one looks like. Any deviation, makes you look deeper at that coin. Ever hear a dealer say, something doesnt look right.. Thats because they (most) know what a real coin looks like. Trying to decipher what the counterfeiters are doing is going to be tough because it changes daily!
I would concur, especially considering the wide spectrum in quality of fakes. The danger of relying on one marker is that, even if it works, sooner or later the fakers will find this out and make better fake "m"s. There have been many attempts at only one marker for fake coins, and all have this achilles heel. Its a lot like security. Israel security does not allow thier agents to simply profile. Profiling is a lazy way out, and works until it doesn't. You need to keep an open mind on everything, and learn to spot troubling aspects of a coin at every point. There are so many examples of expereinced people "knowing" a coin is fake but not being able to prove it for years, yet their instinct was right all along. Omega fakes and Black sea horde are two examples that come to mind. The one thing I can suggest is to look at thousands of good coins, and not just glance but really look. After that spotting fakes becomes easier to me, its not perfect but helps.
Great advice and I very much appreciate it. I was wondering however if anyone has had specific experience with the M mark on known or suspected fakes.
I have never heard of it. But then that is probably because such an indicator would be lumped into the general description of many fakes. That being that they often have unclear and indistinct details. That's what someone means when they say a coin is mushy. The M would just be 1 of many other details covered by this.
