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 Replies: 8 / Views: 789 |
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Valued Member
Australia
136 Posts |
Posting this for educational purposes, so collectors are aware of the fakes going around. Obviously the Melbourne and 1932 florins are the key targets for counterfeiters. I picked up this 1932 florin in an antique shop as part of a complete florin album. As I was paying below spot price for the entire album, I was willing to take a punt on the 1932 and 34/35. The other early florins were better than the ones I had in my collection anyway. The 34/35 looks good, weighs right, and tests within the brackets on my Sigma. The 1932 however, is quite different. The date is oddly sharp and slightly polished compared to the rest of the coin. It weighs 10.92g, which is a little bit underweight for the amount of wear. Diameter is correct. It's perhaps a fraction of a millimetre too thick, but within expected tolerances. My Sigma was off to the right. While early florins often test just outside the brackets, this was way off. I took the coin to a bullion dealer today and was told it's just 4% silver. So, now the question is what to do with it? As the bullion dealer delivered the bad news she noticed I wasn't particularly upset. I said I didn't pay much for it and that it's fine. She warned me that it's an illegal coin and that I should keep it hidden away. I certainly can't and won't sell it.      Edited by ClusterCoin
01/07/2026 01:50 am
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
10484 Posts |
I'm just impressed you have a $1000 Sigma "Original" precious metal verifier!  |
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
625 Posts |
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So, now the question is what to do with it? Fakes are sold all the time to fill the space in the album left by a collector short of money, like the one you just bought.  Unless you are going to purchase a genuine coin, may as well keep the void occupied. A (good) 1932 may set you back $200 - $250  Quote:
I'm just impressed you have a $1000 Sigma "Original" precious metal verifier! Yes, so am i, would be handy . Edited by crab eater
01/07/2026 05:02 am
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Valued Member
 Australia
136 Posts |
I have a 1932 florin in about Fine condition. It's genuine... or at least I think it is. It looks good and is made of sterling, although I have seen the Sigma fooled on some good counterfeits.
I decided to buy the Sigma as I tour enough auctions that it eventually paid for itself in avoiding fakes. Local auctions are the wild west of fake coins, with plenty of them about. I would have purchased the antique shop florin folder even knowing the 1932 was fake as there was more than enough other value there.
What I'd really like is an XRF, but at AUD20k for a basic model I just can't justify it.
I'll keep the fake florin as an educational piece, in case a fellow collector wants to know what a fake one looks like. It's a better than 'filler' fake in that the weight and dimensions are almost correct. I've seen fake 1932s at auction that weighed 9.3g, which is obviously a screaming red flag.
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
1039 Posts |
The break in the Emu's leg is a known marker for fakes but the scary part is they will fix it for later Coins.
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Moderator
Australia
16806 Posts |
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She warned me that it's an illegal coin and that I should keep it hidden away. It's not really all that illegal. Under Australian law, mere possession of fake predecimal coins is not a crime. The only crime would occur if it were sold without disclosure of its fakeness. It's against ebay regulations to sell such a coin on ebay, under any circumstances, but those are ebay regulations, not laws. As for "what to do with it", personally I would advise to buy or borrow a letter-punch kit and punch "FAKE" in a prominent location. This coin is "good enough to fool", and if left un-marked it will eventually fool someone else. Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Moderator
United States
187702 Posts |
Interesting example. Sap gives good advice here.
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
1610 Posts |
I've got some fake florins that look like they are made from zinc. Somewhat crude. Not sure when they were made.
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Valued Member
Australia
136 Posts |
I have several florin counterfeits from the late 1920s and early 30s of varying quality. They're all a bit rough, too light and with a dark grey patina. I believe they're made of lead, aluminium and possibly zinc as these melt easily at temperatures backyard counterfeits could easily achieve. I collect these as they were contemporary counterfeits made by people back then. It's not possible to buy such counterfeits on ebay so when I come across them in a bag of coins from local auctions I always keep them. I have no respect for counterfeits made today aimed at fooling coin collectors or silver stackers. Recently I obtained a letter die set, so will be giving my 1932 florin the respect it deserves. Edited by ClusterCoin
02/27/2026 01:56 am
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Replies: 8 / Views: 789 |
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Posted 01/07/2026 04:59 am
