Fake/Counterfeit 1897 Liberty V Nickel

Common dates usually get less scrutiny than key dates. Key dates are typically struck from a very limited number of die pairs and have identifying diagnostics that are much more well known. If it is easier for the counterfeiter to sell and in larger quantities, then it can make more sense to fake a common date over a key date.

The "7" is so fat. Why was 6 afraid of 7?
Because 7 ate 9. (Get it?) :p

The Chinese counterfeiters tend to use the computer copying to create a fake hub. They then remove the date from that hub and use it to create multiple undated dies. That hub can be used to create dies until it wears out. They then punch whatever date they desire into one of the blank dies and strike fakes from it. They have done this for years. On the bust dollars they used a coin that had some noticeable features and contact marks. The dateless hub created from that coin, the "vampire hub", has been used to create bust dollar dies of all dates from 1795 to 1804. At one time they had a commonly used hub on Seated dollars that had major damage in the top of the shield on the obv. That hub was also to create dies for almost every date in the Seated dollar series.