4 Different Kinds Of Counterfeit Coins To Be Aware Of With Your Collection

As a coin collector you want to put together the most extensive collection possible with rare and mintstate coins. The idea is to build a collection that is worth something and means something to you. As you begin adding to your set, you need to be cautious of counterfeit coins. Here are four different kinds of counterfeit coins to be aware of.

1. Fake coins
The first kind of counterfeit coins to be wary of are fake coins. These are typically made of metal that is less valuable than what legitimate coins are made of. Having a fake coin can certainly decrease the value of your coins and sets. You certainly do not want to get fooled into purchasing a fake coin when thinking it is an actual coin worth something.

An example of a fake coin is a one ounce Eagle that is made of bronze but is passed off as a coin made of gold. Obviously gold is going to be worth far more than bronze. It all depends on what the seller wants you to think of the coins. If you are collecting bullion coins you need to look out for fakes. You will not be getting the right metal the coins are supposed to contain resulting in you purchasing a worthless coin.

2. Copy coins
The next type of counterfeit coins is copy coins. A copy is a coin that is made of the metal the coin is supposed to be made of, or is the right metal. If you are collecting rare old gold coins you need to be cautious of copies. While you will still be getting gold or silver, the coin is not going to be what it is supposed to be. An expert coin collector will be able to identify a copy coin.

3. Restruck coin
A restruck coin is an authentic genuine coin that bears an earlier date than the date of striking. The point behind this is to increase the rarity of the coin by making it appear to be much older than it really is. An example of a restruck coin would be the Maria Theresa Thaler that was issued before 1780. All Thaler’s that were issued after her death continued to show the date 1780.

4. Replicas
The last kind of counterfeit coins you need to be cautious of are replicas. These types of coins are simply copies of original coins. They are typically made of different metals than the ones they are supposed to represent. You will find that some of these coins have noticeable changes or may even have the word “copy” on them. These types of coins are typically copied from ancient or rare coins with a lot of value.

By: TomL

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Tom Lindstrom is a coin collecting expert. For more great information about counterfeit coins be sure to visit www.coincollectingpennies.com.