Are All Coins From Eastern Europe Forgeries?

The snake doesn't have a tongue.

Westwood Arms Precisely correct. One of a couple dozen tells for that particular die.

The coin uses the incorrect eagle design. The eagle design is the standardized design used at all mints in Mexico in the latter part of the second Republic. That design is one that every collector of 8 reales needs to be able to instantly identify. Why? Because many forgers in China and Eastern Europe use it along with basically any date and mint combination to create forgeries. I have seen over 100 different dates that use this reverse on ebay - NOT ONE of which is genuine.

In most cases, I refuse to bid a total of more than $10 (incl shipping) in an attempt to secure a single example to learn from. To date I have lost every single one I have bid on. One brought over $180. Insane.

This is a worthless pressure casting which actually costs under $1 to produce. More like 10 cents actually.

If you buy one - the postage alone provides the full profit for the forger. They do not normally pay return shipping, so it is ebay who pays customer losses. In all cases the forger makes out best.

None of these should ever sell.

I suspect these molds were created by 3D printing of the molds used. I have seen a few that date back a year or so when they were experimenting with the technology. Looks like it is better now.

Here is the correct eagle design for the 1875 Go coin.



But if you ever see the first reverse on any 8R dated before 1882 with the exception of Mexico City coins - do not bid.

Basically, pressure castings come in various type depending on the manufacturing techniques employed.

High pressure castings are typically injection moldings done under very high pressures to create very fine detail castings in metal. The process is quicker than low pressure casting and uses metals with low melting points, like tin, zinc and lead.

Pressure castings (or Low Pressure castings) are more typically seen when trying to reduce surface bubbles in metal castings by maintaining pressure until the injected metal hardens. It is a slower production method, but equipment used is less costly.

Centrifugal casting is also in the same general family of processes.

jgenn While I agree that your analysis is correct and that no one should buy these coins. They actually do sell and for far more than $28.

Typically, they are sold at auction starting at $0.99, and they do sell.

In my opinion it is easier if the bidders know what to look for.

Just reading this thread now. Thx for helping me learn something @swamp!

wizened The official policy of ebay since about 2013 is "let the buyer beware". Legally ebay has positioned itself as a Venue and not an auctioneer. They accept no responsibility for what is sold. This position was developed by the Lawyers at ebay because of international laws and trade agreements.

In places like Poland, China and many other countries have no laws making the manufacture and sale of Numismatic Forgeries illegal. In the US such "COPY" coins must be marked permanently, but not elsewhere.

Collectors must defend themselves by learning what they are collecting. Otherwise, they will discover their error when they try to sell their fakes.