Chinese Counterfeits

I have learned through bitter experience how to identify most counterfeits in stamp collecting. Any tips on spotting fake wheats of semi-key dates?

EDIT: It would be nice to know what to look for visually from an auction listing first, then what to look for upon physical inspection. I have a scale from my son's Pinewood Derby kit that displays to 0.1 grams or 0.01 ounces.

Pete,

I agree that research is key. I am somewhat new to coin collecting but I have more than a bit of experience in stamp collecting. I've done my fair share of research there, to be sure. If someone on a stamp forum asked for tips to identify fake U.S. 19th century Newspaper stamps, I would have several suggestions based on my research and experience. I'd prefer not to make rookie mistakes myself and learn from bitter experience with wheat pennies. I'm happy to read an article addressing the issue from a link. I'm not lazy. I just don't know where to look for the info.

The Australiasian Coin & Banknote Magazine, about a year ago, had a very informative article on faked Australian bronze coins that have originated in China.

They were die struck, and have to be examined against a known genuine equivalent coin for variations in design. A 10 x loupe very handy for this.

If you feel uneasy about a scarce or rare coin you have, take it to a reputable dealer who knows his stuff, or if that service is not available to you, post it to a leading dealer in Australia who will be able to give you a definitive opinion.

Same applies to U.S. coins, but your doubtful does not have to go on such an extensive travelling holiday.

I like to keep a good reference collection of fake coins, just to defend myself. Dealers most often do this as well.

When it comes to detection of die struck fake coins, there is no substite for comparison of a fake coin to a known genuine one in the hand.

For expensive coins, your only other reasonably reliable defence is to buy off an auctioneer or dealer with the highest reputation, with a long established business.

This sounds like great GENERAL advice, much like I would give to a stamp collector, but is there no SPECIFIC advice to screening U.S. wheats?

I think there are too many web sites to list to determine fakes on wheat cents. For the key dates, just search around and you'll find them. The 1914-D and 1909-S VDB have a ton of fakes out there, so you have to know what a real one looks like, before you even think of buying one. Buying a slabbed one from the top 3 TPGs is a great alternative.

Hi Larsdog,

Sorry if I was a bit vague with my previous post. I'm working at this problem from probably the same level as you if not a bit lower down on the skill tree.

What I'm saying is that you need to research everything about the coin you are looking at.
Diameter, thickness, weight, detail on obverse, reverse and rim, Everything.

This forum is a great resource for this info, as well as google.

The point is, it you know as much as you can about what details/specs a coin should have, then your chance of getting a fake are reduced.

One coin I need right now is a Centenary Florin, currently I'm looking at the design elements, and so far the few I've looked at, two have been "fake" I think. the design just was not what I though it should be.

I guess the point is, if ever the fakes get 100% detail and specs on a coin right, I don't think we have any way other than carbon dating to tell. A worrying thought that.

Cheers
Pete

Most unsettling! There are some fairly useful guidelines for identifying a vast majority of U.S. postage stamp fakes, depending on the issue.

What about weight? Are there any guidelines for weight? I have the published weight from the Red Book. How much variation is expected in mint samples? How much weight loss (percentage) in a heavily used coin?