Counterfeit (Fake) Detection: 1844 Seated Liberty Dime

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NGC - This fake has numerous problems, starting with the date.

The 1844 Dime is one of the rarer issues of the 1837-1891 Seated Liberty series. Even a well-circulated genuine example like the one here graded NGC F-12 is worth several hundred dollars. Prices escalate to several thousand dollars for genuine Mint State examples.

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Genuine 1844 Seated Liberty dime, graded NGC F 12

NGC recently received a submission of a purported 1844 Seated Liberty dime that caught the attention of our grading team — for several reasons.

Counterfeit Seated Liberty 1844 Dime

Seated Liberty dimes have the same small diameter as modern dimes, so a loupe is especially useful in helping to authenticate them. An examination of the numerals in the date immediately raises concerns. The serif at the bottom of the 1 is far too narrow, as are the vertical lines in the 4's. Additionally, the numerals in the date have a more rounded look than those on the genuine example.

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Glad this has been taken out of our community.

As typical, the date logo with serif 4's gives it away. Not that the logo on the original is all that inspiring.

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Not that the logo on the original is all that inspiring.

Have to agree. One of the few times when the fake date looks better than the genuine one...

It is always so weird to me when counterfeiters seem to add their own "flourishes" shall I say. With the wealth of images available for these coins it seems so odd that they would reproduce the dates without looking at a genuine example to even get the type face right. Adding serifs was a deliberate choice.

Even if this was contemporary, why not use an 18X4 or 184X date to ensure you get the date looking right?

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Even if this was contemporary, why not use an 18X4 or 184X date to ensure you get the date looking right?

Well the 54 would have arrows at the date, the 64 is rare, and you also have the problem that in 1860 the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA moved to the obverse so that eliminated 64, 74, and 84. As for using an 184X that MIGHT be possible but you have to be careful because date sizes tended to vary. 1840 - 42 have small dates, 43 and 45 might be possible the date sizes are about right, 46 is rare, 47, 8, and 9 all have crosslet 4's.

I really appreciate your sharing this. I have so little expertise on counterfeits (which is why I mostly buy slabbed PCGS), this was both interesting and educational. Those small nuances, especially around dates, really make a difference in terms of authentication. That was my laymen's takeaway in this instance.

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Counterfeit Detection: 1844 Seated Liberty Dime