Fake Coins: How To Detect Counterfeits
Con artists have always been around to take advantage of starters, whether it is in the art collecting business or in numismatics. Coin collectors know they are working in a niche market, yet some rare coins can fetch more than a kings’ ransom.
The market of antiques has limits, there are only so many antiques to go around. Also, as the number of rich people keeps growing, demand for exclusive pieces also keeps growing and this means prices are steadily going up.
Learn all about fake coins
There are more fake coins in circulation than real deal items, and starting coin collectors fall for a scam more easily than veterans. Do not be disappointed when you discover that you bought a counterfeit, motivate yourself to learn more about numismatics and tell yourself that you have just spent a tuition fee that teaches you an important lesson, one every self respecting coin collector has to learn sooner or later, namely, that if you are not sure, you don’t buy. Get a second opinion from someone you know you can trust.
The ancient library of Alexandria was burnt down by a monarch because he knew that some of the scrolls in it contained information allowing those who knew of it how to counterfeit gold and silver coins in such a way that it was virtually impossible to tell apart good coins from bad coins. His solution was radical, but it aimed the safe guarding of an empire’s currency, which, without being trusted, could cause the ruin of trade relations.
You will find that there a certain dead giveaways concerning fake coins. Because sometimes fake coins are cast as opposed to being pressed, the sound they make when they fall or hit against another coin is different than the sound they would make if they were not fakes. Color also can help detect fakes, you are sure to have heard the expression “fool’s gold”. Highly polished brass can mislead some into believing they are looking at gold.
The weight of a coin is also a good indicator as to its authenticity. Different alloys used to make coins will have different densities, this has an impact on the weight. Fake coins are often made with softer metals. It used to be that people would bite on a coin to determine whether it was real or not. All these discriminators, weight, density, color, sound, make for so many different things to watch out for, that you need to understand that this expertise is only built over many years of experience. Whether it is about fake 1 pound coins or fake roman coins, sometimes these are made for commercial promotion purposes.
Some ground “common sense” rules will help. If you are on the market for valuable coins, don’t do it on your own. Do a background check on the dealer. Ask for a certificate of authenticity. Deal only with established reputed businesses.
