8 Ways to Recognize Counterfeit Coins
Numismatics, or coin collecting, is considered to be one of the oldest hobbies in the world. Paper money had not been introduced until the 18th century, with the exceptions of Japan and China, so their development is one that is quite recent.
Numismatics is the real deal. Numismatists, who have devoted much time to the study of ancient coins and their characteristics, have numerous methods to analyze and study coins. Identifying a counterfeit coin is one of their fortes. Counterfeiters are always looking for new ways to enhance their techniques and replicate ancient coins as closely as possible and it is even legal in some countries (such as China, where making a ‘replica’ of a foreign coin is totally legal).
Hopefully the following advice will help you protect yourself from counterfeiters and save you from buying an unauthentic ancient coin.
1.The Electronic Scale. The weight of silver and gold coins is one of the most important indicators of authenticity. Many counterfeiters cut the originals out of gold, silver, or platinum and take some of the valuable contents from the inside, replacing them with cheaper alloys. Only electronic scales will help in such a situation and help you accurately determine the weight of the coin, so you can compare the value obtained with that in the catalog. For instance, a Greek silver tetradrachm should weigh around 17 grams (as 17,28 grs was the Attic weight for 300 years before being brought back to 17.20). It can always weigh less, due to age wear and shocks, but never more. A great example would be the iconic Greek Tetradrachm of Seleucus III, seen below.
2. Use a Magnifying Glass. It will allow you to see the smallest details on the front and back of the coin. Counterfeiters often make the mistake of neglecting the details. In addition, the presence of bubbles on the surface probably means that you are holding a fake coin.
3. What Sound do You Hear? Throw the coin on a hard, smooth surface. If the sound is clear, sonorous, there are no low-quality impurities in the composition. If the coin falls with a vague dull noise, it means that the coin is not authentic and it would be better to cancel your purchase.
4. The Edge of The Coin can tell a lot if you look closely. Horizontal stripes or perfectly flat and smooth surfaces are signs of a fake coin. On this Tetradrachm of Lysimachus (photographed below), we can see clearly that time has affected the once perfectly rounded shape of the coin which is a good indicator that the coin is genuine.
5. The Image on The Coin Must Be Clean. The technique of making was not always perfect, but they always paid special attention to drawing details. If you see a blurred image on the front or back, completely separate elements are missing, you should know that you are holding a fake coin in your hand.
6. Letters. The letters of the legend and the small details on the surface of the ancient coin must be correctly spaced. The size of the letters must be the same. You can see on this tetradrachm coin depicting Antiochus I, with Apollo on the backside how the Greek letters are clearly and correctly spaced.
7. Patina is a great indicator of authenticity, especially for copper and bronze coins. The patina is the natural surface alterations which happens to ancient coins over a long period of time (a natural patina usually means that the coin has not been disturbed for decades, if not centuries). The cracks in the patina that you don’t like are also a good sign of authenticity.
8. Buy a Detailed Catalog of Antique Coins. For a beginner numismatist who does not want to fall victim to counterfeiters and be able to verify the authenticity of old coins, it is advisable to purchase a detailed catalog of antique coins. The albums are dedicated to specific eras and countries. The photo of each copy of a coin is accompanied by a detailed description of the weight, obverse and reverse, alloy, and other characteristics.
We hope that our advice will help you stay away from counterfeiters. It is always advisable to only buy ancient coins from reliable stores and collectors, ones who will be ready to prove their items’ authenticity, making sure that you have an authentic piece of past eras.
