Fake £1

Since the news broke about the forthcoming new coin design,
I've been actively seeking fakes to catalogue for the website
(Old lady is a cash handler so there's a constant supply)

I have come across 42 fakes !



Now all I need is a decent camera to photograph them well !! LOL

@ DaytR, an interesting historical document is here: http://www.coin-mech.co.uk/Cataloge...nd-fakes.pdf. Andy of Willings (coin machine/hardware co.) compiled this record of the number of fake coins he had found of different designs, date, edge inscription and die axis error, if any, and physical stats. There were over 500 configurations.

I say 'historical document' as he announced its existence in Dec. 2009 and what you see is certainly no later than mid-2010 as he reported his first fake 2008 dated Shield reverse in August 2010, which does not appear on the list. Very few 2007 dated had occurred.

Even so, it is some collection to beat! Of thousands found there were just two fake 1988 Royal Shield, never seen those reported anywhere else. Also a fake 1971 with portrait "1" clearly referring to 2nd Portrait - could that be the same as this 'new die' example: http://www.counterfeitcoinclub.co.u...es/p1000742/ ? The first 2008/Shield he found appeared to be 'new dies' in photos.

It records considerable numbers (and different dates) of Thistle reverse with a hybrid English/Scottish edge motto, pictured here: http://www.coinauthentication.co.uk...dbrass3.html, here: http://www.counterfeitcoinclub.co.u...eries/no-36/ and by RED: http://ukfakeanderrorcoins.50webs.com/FAKES/H2.jpg. I've never seen one in my London orbit, and going by Robert Matthews' remarks they must be very rare now.

@Moralclimate

any guesses as to who may have made those 1988 fakes?

I have been thinking about the fake 1988`s and thought maybe they made by forgers a long time ago .....then maybe some collectors pulled others from circulation thinking they were genuine 1988 pound coins hence the numbers are so low ...

I would imagine they were crudely created in the early 90's from lead, as per example E2 & H3 from my website (http://ukfakeanderrorcoins.50webs.com/POUNDS.HTML) both of which were easy to spot and removed from circulation during that time.
I'm surprised there hasn't been many fakes because it's quite simple in its design (Compared to the 1996/2001 celtic cross and bridge series which are all copied excessively)

Must make it my mission to get one !


Oh and DaytR - I keep them in a tray at the moment...



but am tempted to order some of these cheap folders (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/360783259124) for them, plus my other circulation coins... but will have to poke around and see if anyone else has some and what they think for long term storage etc

@ DaytR, still hunting down a fake Egyptian Arch?

This one is taking the mickey:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ROYAL-MIN...271458949463

but this "newly listed" copycat(?) item gets off to a better start:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/royal-min...201080379340

Hee hee, now look closely at: http://ukfakeanderrorcoins.50webs.com/FAKES/B6.jpg , also X11 and X12.

Not to mention the "miss prints" in the above ads themselves!

I've just been shopping and I got two Welsh dragon 2000 £1 coins in change. One looked a bit funny, so I studied it more closely - yes, a fake! Usual washed-out lettering, obverse and reverse about 10% out of alignment and the edge reads (very faintly!)"DECUS ET TUTAMEN"...

can a forger make back dated fakes at will?

if so then ebay bidders are crazy.

HH