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 Replies: 14 / Views: 4,874 |
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New Member
United States
4 Posts |
Hello, I picked up two 2003 gold Eagles and when I compared it to my only other gold Eagle, a 2012, I noticed a significant difference in luster/shine and slight difference in overall color, the 2003 are a bit darker and dull. So I checked their weight and its perfect. The dimensions seems to be good. The details seem good as well although the 2012 has deeper(finer) detail and almost proof-like appearance(although it is not a proof-coin) Were the earlier Eagles minted differently than the later Eagles or are these fakes? or are they just dirty? I've searched online and found no answers. Please help! From left to right, 2003,2003, 2012.     Thanks Edited by Paradigm
03/15/2014 12:18 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1804 Posts |
 To CCF |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
5417 Posts |
to CCF! And that 2003 looks pretty weird, you may want to take it to your Local coin shop and get it tested. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2311 Posts |
The 2003 do have a weaker strike look. I wonder about them. Did you try the magnet test? to ccf. |
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New Member
 United States
4 Posts |
Thank you for the welcomes!
I don't have a magnet but I did the coin-drop test and the pinging sound is the same. None of the coins "thud" but makes a "ping" noise.
Were the dies used in particular years contain less detail or were the dies cut to have a fainter detail?
Please help!
Edited by Paradigm
03/15/2014 01:18 am
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Valued Member
United States
329 Posts |
On the lower right hand side of the obverse, the first ray seems to have a significant shortage of length, leaving it well short of the second star on the 2003 versus the 2012 picture you provided. I'm not well versed with the gold eagle but that was the difference my eye picked up. Along with the fact that the 2003 seems to have a much weaker strike and less detail.
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New Member
United States
4 Posts |
Found a magnet and tested it - does not attract.
Can a gold Eagle coin lose its shine and appear dull from wear or oily fingers?
Edited by Paradigm
03/15/2014 02:46 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3184 Posts |
probably ok, did you buy it from a reputable dealer or get it from a source in China?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
621 Posts |
If the weight and dimensions are the same on the coins I would think it's fine. I don't think their are very many metals you can use that have the same density of gold other than platinum, which wouldn't make any sense to use as a gold substitute anymore. in the olden days I've heard of them hollowing out gold coins and filling them with platinum but nowdays the prices have evened out between the two more.
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New Member
United States
4 Posts |
Mkman, I got it from local American jeweler and not from a bullion dealer or China.
Justin, the weight is good but the difference in color tone and shine concerns me.
Edited by Paradigm
03/15/2014 1:07 pm
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New Member
United States
34 Posts |
To me it looks like the first two are BU and the last (2012) might be proof
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Valued Member
Canada
293 Posts |
Welcome to the site. Hard to tell for sure from pictures, so why don't you send them to me and I'll check the out.........just kidding of course, but beautiful coins and if the spec's are all exact, then I'd be quite confident they're the real deal.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
931 Posts |
Roll them in the light. Real ones will have a noticeable cartwheel luster. Also, the counterfeit Gold Eagles have very flat stars, and the face on the counterfeits are much more skeletonized. One real ones the stars are more sculpted towards the middle. Unfortunately, the counterfeits that I've seen have been 2003's. If You take it to have an X-Ray spectrometer test done, the fake ones are over 99% gold, and the real ones register gold, copper, and silver. The ring test I'd a good sign.
The jeweler probably has an X-Ray spec, so take it back and have him test it. Of course, if he is crooked he'll say that they aren't the coins that he sold you. Best of luck!
There is a video on YouTube showing counterfeit 2003's, and how to tell. I know how that this isn't an old post, but now they are making fake 2003 and 2005 Gold Eagles, and the weight and dimensions check out. Apparently they have figured out how to to stamp Tungsten.
Edited by junior e
07/06/2016 7:56 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4901 Posts |
The 2003's have been around nine years longer than the 2012 and I doubt they were stored in perfect conditions. Surface appearance changes are to be expected.
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Rest in Peace
United States
2668 Posts |
Just dirt. I remember when one of our radars would lose efficiency I would say, "Some of the gold lining the magnetron oxidized."
It would be funny to see the nods of agreement from very smart geeks.
Better to check the other circuits are up to spec.
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Replies: 14 / Views: 4,874 |
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Posted 03/15/2014 12:46 am
