Manufacturing Counterfeit Coins

It is a pretty old one, so most have probably not seen it...

http://www.coincommunity.com/forum/...PIC_ID=28118

Absolutely!

Since that old thread is archived, any comments would have to be made in a new thread anyway. The link is there for reference only.

High quality fake cameo proofs have also been made.

As far as the Chinese cash coins are concerned:
Thirty years ago, I was buying Chinese cash coins in job lots at 10 cents to 20 cents each, and I had no idea at the time if they were fake or not, but I was suspicious enough to consider that I could be easily deceived. I have about 200 of them of most dynasties and perhaps half of the Emperors.

To day, it is most common for such cast cash coins to be sold for around 10 dollars or so, and I am STILL unsure of myself on how to pick the fakes among them, but at around $10 each, I am no longer in the market for them at that price.

I assume that the modern fakes of these are made in exactly the same traditional way that they have always been made, and for me at least, I admit that picking the fakes of cast cash Chinese coins is well nigh impossible. That's why I am no longer in the market for them at $10 apiece.

They are getting very good at making excellent fakes of ancient Greek and Roman coins as well.
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My defense against fakes?
I maintain a reasonably large collection of fake coins, so that I can educate myself on how to identify them. I will buy any fake coin at a reasonable price, PROVIDED THAT it is sold to me as a fake. Any good coin dealer that is worth his salt will help his customers and to spend a little of his spare time with them to identify fake coins. Ultimately it is in his own interest to do so.

I learn all I can about how the fakes are made, and buy every book and research paper on this subject that comes my way. Nevertheless plenty of educational material is to be found on the 'Net by anyone who cares to look.

I also find out as much as I can about modern instrumentation and test equipment that can be applied forensically to the detection of fake coins. Fortunately I have reasonably good access to
XRF
Industrial MRI
ultrasonic testing
industrial X -ray.

I say 'fortunately', because I have a friend and next door neighbor who is a forensic materials scientist, who normally uses such equipment. I have learned a great deal from him, not only in the detection of fake coins, but in the detection of fake gemstones because I am also a hobbiest gem cutter as well.

It's like the so-called "Rule 34" only as applied to coins. If it exists, there *is* a counterfeit of it.

And they are cranking them out by the millions in mainland China. Each coin in The Black Cabinet stacks passed as genuine at least once before landing there.

At least as a counterfeit collector, I can say there's bountiful variety. :-)

It certainly is - thanks for posting.

That's a great slideshow - I've seen the Castaing machine photo before but not the rest. Thanks for the link!

Even that 1906 "Silver Eagle"?