Been Reading About Fakes...

The lesser value coins are really not worth counterfeiting. When you get into the key dates and more expensive coins, that is when you have to start being more careful.

Best rule of thumb to start off in those cases is, as mentioned above, " if it seems to good to be true, it most likely is " ........... or at the very least it deserves a lot more due diligence.

Hi Steve,

Thanks for the reply; I read a post on another coin forum where folks were talking about buying a small lot of fake junk ag from China that really got my interest piqued. I really couldn't believe that the counterfeiter folk would bother with a margin so small (but I guess it all adds up).

I found the link I was looking at. Hoping sharing it is not a violation etc (please advise mods?): http://realcent.org/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=22539

On a side note, any scale/MM gauge tool recommendations? Will harbor freight stuff work just fine or is it worth spending a wee bit more for better?

Thank you,
Jay

You've got a pretty good generalized start on things.

Scale: Needs 0.01g accuracy. This is the one I own and trust through experience; note - I just found and linked the first auction showing it, and I've no comment either on price or seller quality:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/DigiWeigh-D...em27d1772453

With that said, another strong possibility is a scale designed for gun reloading. A reputable reloading scale deals in drastically smaller increments than necessary for numismatics, with the user's life on the line depending on the accuracy of the measurement. Much more expensive, but unquestioned accuracy.

Loupe: Use a double-lens, switchable product offering, say, 5x + 10x + both. "Cheap" hurts less than "expensive" here by comparison to a scale; the tradeoff is in smaller optical "sweet spots" and a little eyestrain. But you need variable magnification. I own this one (same caveats as the link above):

http://www.ebay.com/itm/OLD-US-BAUS...em27d16cdc96

It does all I need from it.

Next step: Specialize. Counterfeit Detection is a very knowledge/experience-intensive occupation. Aside the generalities you (accurately) state above - and mind you, these generalities require a whole_lot of experience to apply with confidence - start small. Choose the issue which appears attractive, the thing you want to collect (don't generalize while you're still new), and learn who does what and when with that specific issue. Point being, contemporary counterfeits of Classic issues have a cachet and collectability of their own; the fact that you see a counterfeit Bust Half doesn't mean you shouldn't buy it.

It's clear that your head is straight and your thinking clear on the subject. Proceed in the direction you're headed.

May I invite you to the World Coin part of this coin community where we have incredibly in depth discussions on Counterfeit Detection. Counterfeiting is a very big problem on the "dark side" and we have been helping each other for years to learn to detect problem coins.
Here is an example of a current thread still evolving on the World Coin page
https://goccf.com/t/138487

what's the dark side?

Thank you all! You've given me some excellent fodder. Now to ruminate!

-Jay

Well, only a small minority of herbivores chew Cud. "Fodder" implies he is a domesticated ruminant, which narrows him to cow, sheep, goat, camel, yak, or llama. Think we also can't rule out rabbit.