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 Replies: 16 / Views: 3,399 |
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New Member
Serbia (Srbija)
22 Posts |
Hi everyone, I am new to this forum and would appreciate a little bit of help. I have been collecting US coins for almost a year now and have been learning a lot. One of the hardest problems that I encounter is how to find out if non-silver coins are fakes or real, Indian cents being the hardest of all since there is a flood of chinese fakes where I live. Anyhow I would really appreciate some tips and please if you can take a look at the pictures of this 1888 cent and send in your oppinios if this is real or fake. Thanks so much!   Edited by jetsetwilly
11/26/2014 08:01 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
604 Posts |
I was not able to see your photos.
However, if you are concerned about counterfeits, there are two things you can purchase (inexpensive too):
1. A digital scale to make sure your coins are the correct weight.
2. A dial caliper to make sure they are the correct diameter and thickness.
And to be safe, never purchase a coin/s from anyone who says all sales are final.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5825 Posts |
Obviously fake.
They are X's in square black boxes.
Can't find that variety in Snow's guide.
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New Member
 Serbia (Srbija)
22 Posts |
Sorry for the bad links, I updated the post, you can see the images now. Thanks!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6370 Posts |
Looks like a real VG-08 cent.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1295 Posts |
 to CCF, jetsetwilly! There is certainly nothing that screams "FAKE!" to me about this coin. I would say it's a genuine Indian Head cent, and I actually kind of like the "circulated cameo" toning. It has very good eye appeal, especially for one that has been well circulated. Nickel Guy gave you some very good advice; something I want to add is a phrase you may hear quite often in the hobby "buy the book before the coin". Which put simply, means really read up on the coins you like to collect, otherwise you may land up buying a fake or altered coin. Here is a link to a very comprehensive list of reference books on U.S. coins, compiled mainly by one of our members, MeadowviewCollector. https://goccf.com/t/174749 |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
I suspect this IHC looks a little "off" because of the rounded features and devices. It doesn't look fake to me. This may be due to receiving a lot of little bumps during circulation that flattened down features. The raised lumps in the fields could be due to hits or possibly some corrosion too--hard to tell at this scale. I suspect the coin got some environmental exposure early in its life, and subsequent circulation wore the darker patina off the features. Edited by DVCollector
11/26/2014 1:33 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
709 Posts |
Nobody is going to fake an 1888 Indian Head cent; just not worth the effort for common dates. Just be careful when buying unslabbed (including basement slabs) hard to find dates such as 1877 and 1872. If a deal is too good to be true, it's probably fake. |
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Pillar of the Community
Puerto Rico
778 Posts |
It looks real to me with normal wear from circulation.
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New Member
Serbia (Srbija)
22 Posts |
Thanks so much everyone!
@Rollsearcher37 Thanks for the link to the book list! I really appreciate it. I relly mostly on online resources because it's realy hard to come by to these books (and coins) where I live.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8516 Posts |
Quote:Nobody is going to fake an 1888 Indian Head cent; just not worth the effort for common dates. Just be careful when buying unslabbed (including basement slabs) hard to find dates such as 1877 and 1872. If a deal is too good to be true, it's probably fake. You can buy all the fake 1888's you want. They are most certainly out there. Oregon coin geek.....*** GO BEAVS ! ! ! ***
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Pillar of the Community
United States
709 Posts |
You would be hard pressed to come across a fake 1888 Indian Head without purposely seeking a fake out. I am on ebay all the time and have never seen one. Why would you fake a $1 1888 cent when you can fake a $500 1877 cent? Buying them on one of those replica websites is a lot different than finding them out in the wild. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8516 Posts |
Less scrutiny on a common date ? I don't know but I do know they're out there and probably aimed at people that think they wouldn't fake common dates.
Oregon coin geek.....*** GO BEAVS ! ! ! ***
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2757 Posts |
you can get yourself a digital pocket scale for $20 that goes to .01 grams - very useful.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
Quote:
You can buy all the fake 1888's you want. They are most certainly out there. I have seen the fake "1888/7" at least   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8516 Posts |
Lol yeah they're pretty bad !
Oregon coin geek.....*** GO BEAVS ! ! ! ***
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Replies: 16 / Views: 3,399 |
Posted 11/26/2014 07:53 am
