Will photographs of graded coins defeat counterfeiters?

Well all of my coins match the TPG photo almost exactly. So yours just might be an exception.

We all have a lot to learn before talking about this subject with any authority.

 

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It's great if NGC & PCGS take pictures but, keep in mind most people that fall for these counterfeits won't spend the time trying to look up pictures. I think most of the people that buy these are impulse buyers or new to the hobby. Seasoned collectors should know better than to fall for this scam. My approach to buying rare coins is to only buy from well known dealers or auction houses. Then the mid range coins from a known LCS or at shows where the dealers are well known. However, it's possible a counterfeit coin could get by a well known dealer. I don't think that any truly rare coin would get past a major dealer or serious collector if counterfeit. However, generic coins could easily pass because most people don't look that close at them.

 

Every coin has many different looks. The look you capture with the camera is up to you and the skills you have. You can see the same different looks with the coin in hand with your eyes. Just turn the coin in the light. You can make the color pop or hide it. You can hide or show most anything you wish.
There was a thread here a while back on this same topic.

 

Link to the thread on the topic.
https://www.cointalk.com/threads/same-coin-different-image.373136/

 

Sometimes you got to eat the humble pie and listen.

If you brush comments off as if there is nothing to contribute to, guess what - people aren't getting paid to read and ignoring posts will be quick and easy. A quick way to burn bridges.

 

Hmm I didn’t know the TPGs took photos to hide marks & defects.

Maybe they should stop doing that and take photos that show as many identifying marks & defects as possible.

There has to be a way to take photos that people can compare.

 

Who are you talking to?

 

Interesting thread!

Fly in the ointment though, here is an example of an on-line cert image that is pretty good but won't necessarily "defeat" the counterfeiters, as the coin is counterfeit and the holder genuine...

 

If it’s a genuine NGC holder how did a counterfeit coin get in it?

NGC has a guarantee where if they authenticate a fake coin as genuine they will either reimburse For the fair market value of a legitimate coin of that type or they will replace the fake with a real one of the same type & grade. They get to choose which they want to do.

 

Well here is what I’m talking about.

The first photo is a photo I took.

The second photo is a photo NGC took of the same coin.

As you can see they do match up in every way.

You can see they both have spotting on the head from an old cleaning as well as a vertical scratch up the neck. Although it’s not as visible in my photo it’s still there.

They also have the same toning on the bottom of the neck where it’s darker than the rest and the darkness is the same shape.

They also have the same amount of toning around each star on the obverse edges.

 

The other problem being ebay buyers will bid on anything. A blurred picture .99 start. Also, I know some people buy slabbed coins and don't even look up the cert.

 

There are some coins that are or were so good they slipped by. I think there are a few like that. From what I hear people collect them for the legit encapsulated fakes that they are.

 

As @Derrick Combs stated some are so good they pass experts and TPG's. My collection of these are used for education and displays at coin shows (when I could attend them...).
All 4 top TPG's guarantee authenticity with buy-back opportunities for those who want to send them in under the guarantee; so far I actually own 13 decepetive struck counterfeits in genuine TPG holders.

 

So why don’t you send yours in and have the TPGs pay you the money to buy real ones?

 

For the reasons I stated above; there us no time limit on the guarantees.
I may actually decide to donate them to the ANA in the future for use in their educational and counterfeit seminars and exhibits.
I continue to collect genuine coins as well...

 

Just curious: are they counterfeits of expensive coins?

I mean like if I had a fake PF67 1955 Roosevelt Dime it wouldn’t be nearly as bad as having say a fake AU50 1893 S Morgan Dollar.

The Roosevelt Dime is only like $20 whereas the 1893 S Morgan Dollar is thousands and thousands of dollars.

I probably wouldn’t bother sending in the fake Roosevelt Dime but I would definitely bother to send in a fake 1893 S Morgan Dollar in a genuine TPG holder.

 

This is my master list of the coins counterfeited and the prices paid or bought back under the TPG's guarantee: