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 Replies: 16 / Views: 2,354 |
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New Member
United States
5 Posts |
Greetings all.
I recently won a blind auction for a pallet of miscellaneous goods (I was hoping that the visible Fender guitar case contained a 1952 Telecaster). When I got the stuff home and started sorting through it I found a box with a bunch of very old silver coins in it. Or at least for a few glorious moments I thought I did. The "too good to be true" part of me hopped online and quickly discovered that I was the proud owner of a bunch of counterfeits.
So my question to you fine folks is; what do I do with them? And let me clarify that I have absolutely ZERO intention of trying to rip someone off with these. But, is it even ethical (or legal?) to sell these at all, even for a buck or two with the full on, loud and proud disclosure that they are fakes?
I have no numismatic experience at all so pardon any ignorance that I may be displaying.
Oh, and the Fender case was filled with carpet samples from 1964...
Thanks!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7840 Posts |
 Use them to learn about them and to try to educate others about them. Let's see some pictures!  Edited by oih82w8
04/10/2012 6:47 pm
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New Member
 United States
5 Posts |
Thanks! One of my concerns is them getting into the hands of someone who WOULD try to rip off somebody, so education purposes would be a good idea. Here are a few of them just shot with my iphone.  |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1731 Posts |
the top 2 coins look fine? I'm no expert in american coins. I have a few morgans.  |
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New Member
United States
5 Posts |
Yes, they are pretty convincing. However, a regular old magnet LOVES these coins, and a little research ended up educating me a lot about my little cache. High quality fakes.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7840 Posts |
SteveCaruso, on this forum, has a "Black Cabinet" which is basically a storage unit for fake/copy/facsimile coins so that they may be cataloged and studied for numismatic content. Check this thread for info; https://goccf.com/t/114460&SearchTe...lack,cabinetEdited by oih82w8
04/10/2012 7:21 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
to the CCF ! In fact, those counterfeits have a very high educational value to them. DON'T be too disappointed. Every collector should have a reference collection of them. By close examination of your counterfeit collection, the collector can educate himself against being ripped off, by knowing what to look out for when buying a high priced item of the same kind. My suggestion is give them or sell them as counterfeits to a collector you can trust. I have no doubt there are some collectors that would like to start or add to their collection of these 'nasties', for their own education. Actually, I GIVE all of my fake coins to a professional dealer I have known for nearly 40 years, to add to his extensive reference collection. I look at this collection occasionally for my own education. If I want an opinion on an 'iffy' coin, he is my 'go to' guy. He is well known amongst dealers in Australia, and has had occasional honourable mentions in Australian coin magazines for most of those 40 years. Edited by sel_69l
04/10/2012 7:41 pm
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New Member
United States
5 Posts |
Thanks. The Black Cabinet looks like a good idea. After just now reading up on the whole counterfeit situation, it's very out of hand. Probably best to put them out to pasture for good.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
3692 Posts |
They seem to all have been made from the same process. Look at the rims always.
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Moderator
 Australia
16849 Posts |
Quote:
But, is it even ethical (or legal?) to sell these at all, even for a buck or two with the full on, loud and proud disclosure that they are fakes? In the United States, selling copies or replicas of coins is legal, provided they have "COPY" stamped on them in a prominent place somewhere. I assume your copies don't have COPY stamped on them - most of the steel fakes coming out of China these days aren't stamped - but if you get yourself a hammer and a letter-punch kit, you can make them legal. However, even stamped "COPY", you still can't sell them on ebay - they've recently banned all sales of replica coins. 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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Pillar of the Community
United States
1796 Posts |
@PocketFullOfFakes - Aye if you want to get rid of them, you can donate them to The Black Cabinet where they'll be able to educate others. I'm also seeing some familiar ones in your picture. The fake ASE looks like a CF-S$1-1900-0001, and the 1884 Morgan looks like a CF-S$1-1884-0001. These guys are *everywhere* nowadays, and I mean *everywhere*. @Sap - Not quite true. You only have to mark them with "COPY" if you are either 1) the manufacturer of said replicas in the US or 2) an importer. That in mind, I'm not saying it isn't a good idea to stamp them if you plan to hold on to them for a long time, but if you're simply a collector and trade them with other collectors *as* counterfeits, you're not breaking any laws if they're not stamped. :-) |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
There are several thihgs you could do with those.
1. As noted send them to the Black Cabinet.
2. Drill holes in them and give to some kids
3. Smash with a hammer, drill holes in them, throw in the garbage
4. Act dumb and spend as real money at a flea market.
5. Ask on this forum if anyone collects fakes and wants them. If so, have them pay for postage and send them to them.
6. Use a metal sciber, such as used on tools, to write fake on them and then take to a coin store and give them to them.
7. Bury them in your back yard.
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New Member
United States
5 Posts |
Thanks all for the great input. I have to admit, they're pretty cool to look at. I'm actually considering making them part of my fish tank decoration (after some toxicity testing of course). There is an evil part of me that wants to use them in an elaborate practical joke, or even a series of simple ones.  . Maybe that will be my next post. "What Kind Of Practical Jokes Can I do With A Bunch Of Fake Coins" lol |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1510 Posts |
dude thats funny Quote:
4. Act dumb and spend as real money at a flea market I work with some nerds that would think they are real LOL Retired USAF 1983-2003
Edited by Coinstar
04/12/2012 12:01 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2295 Posts |
Nice counterfeits. What is wrong with the Morgan and WL half?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4132 Posts |
The problem with the WL half is that it's the size of a dollar. Actually, I think it's intended to be a fake ASE. |
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Replies: 16 / Views: 2,354 |
Posted 04/10/2012 7:03 pm
