Lets All Call Our Representatives, Stop Chinese Counterfeits

I agree with Wein Fun...but on the upside, we are learning to detect counterfeits and learning much more about coins in general

I also agree with Wei Fun, Our government can afford to put the pressure on the Chinese to have them crack down on the counterfeiters.

We can certainly put more pressure on China. A fact often forgotten is that U.S. GDP is still 3x larger than that of China. They may pass us in 2050 but, for now, we're top dog by a great margin. And, historically, high growth economies like China tend to soar up for awhile and then crater in some crises. Many structural problems could unrail them. The U.S. is definitely in a position right now to pressure them on a wide range of issues.

I think they should cut off chinese imports all together, but then again I have been called a dirty American imperialist before (my response was, "you bet I am").
-XoG

Now that would be something, a tarrif on chinese replicas to make them more expensive than the real thing. I like the sound of that.

Protective tariffs don't work. Look up the Smoot--Hawley Tariff Act.

Back to the topic: I think we'd better get used to good counterfeits, it's only a matter of time before the processes are good enough to fool not just the average collector, but the TPGs as well. Counterfeiting is an arms race, but one that I think we'll eventually lose. Add to that the fact the object being counterfeited is small, easy to mistake for an innocuous "common" object and ubiquitous I think even trying to catch importers is nearly impossible. We can't keep drugs, illegals, terrorists or killer bees out of the US, how can we keep counterfeit coins out? Disallow pocket change in border crossings or international shipping? It's not practical.

Selling a known fake is fraud at a minimum. The best we can do is notify the authorities (or push on auction sites like ebay to do so) when a counterfeit is passed and hope that the laws we already have will be enforced.

XoG is right about Smoot. The term "Red" kinda bugs me though. A little too McCarthy for my (personal) taste. My point is education of the collector coupled with a tarrif on all chinese goods could help. Who's idea was it to give them "most favored nation" status anyway?

Also we need to stop being lazy...let's actually manufacture goods in the USA. That is what made us great in the first place....IMHO

They problem is wide range, when it comes to China and counterfeiting. I may know squat when it comes to coins and currency. However they are hitting almost all markets of collectibles.

Hubby thought he was buying me a nice piece of amber, I got a nice looking piece of plastic. Good news, I have it on display in the open. After all if the dog chews it, nothing lost. ;-)

As to other stuff, I avoid "Made in China" when ever possible. I was so upset at Krogers, that I complained to their corporate office.... sorry but I want my Salmon from either the U.S. Canada or Chile. FYI, when buying frozen fish and seafood, you need to check the package. Over half of what our grocery store was carrying was from China!