I have been asked what the most common forms of
Lincoln Cent counterfeit and alterations are, and thought I would share them here:
The question:
What are the things to look for when trying to detect a counterfeit cent? I'm talking about 1909S VDB cents, 1914D cents, 1955
DDO cents and all the other major varieties and key dates.
I have read many times Chucks analysis of a struck counterfeit 1955
DDO cent, and find it a very interesting area which most of us collectors should learn about. I would like to be able to tell the real deal from the fake, or is it better to buy slabbed coins?
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link to referenced 1955
DDO counterfeit article:
http://www.coppercoins.com/lincoln/...counter.html-------------------------------------------------------------
My Response:
It's actually far better to learn the difference for yourself, because even the slabbers aren't infallable. If they let a fake get into one of their holders and you buy it with complete trust in their judgement, you still can't be sure for yourself that they were right without knowing how to check the coin out.
In addition to the following most common alterations, I have seen alterations on 1940S cents (to look like 1910S), 1941S cents (to 1911S), and to 1948 cents (to create 1943 bronze cents). In all cases the difference is obvious to all but very novice collectors...the date is the wrong shape or size and/or the entire design doesn't match the date in question.
The 1909S VDB cent - two most common counterfeit methods are to add a mintmark to a common 1909 VDB cent or to add the initials on the reverse of a genuine 1909S cent. The first is far more common than the latter for obvious reasons. Best thing to learn to look for is tooling marks in the areas of concern, and to know very well what the real mintmark looks like. Most of the faked mintmarks and initials are the wrong size and/or shape.
The 1914D cent - by far the more common method of counterfeiting is to scrape the first 4 of a 1944D cent down to look like a 1914D. To anyone but the most novice these are obvious. The date is shaped wrong, the design is too bowl shaped, and the initials show up on the shoulder - genuine 1914 cents don't have initials on the shoulder. The second method is to add a mintmark to a genuine 1914 cent. Again, learn what the real deal looks like (1913D or 1915D will do). Once you know a real mintmark, anything else will look odd.
The 1922 "no D" cent - As far as I'm concerned you're on your own here. I have always refused to recognize these as a "key date" coin. They are a common problem for the era, worn out dies. They most certainly exist in most dates of the era, but because Philly minted cents in these years, they aren't recognized as anything special...I have news...I don't believe the 1922 examples are any more special than the other dates where this was certain to happen. I go against the grain here, but we're all entitled to opinions. I don't authenticate or study them. Anyone who pays a vast premium for them is following the market, not their head.
The 1931S cent - Two common alterations, and VERY few known struck counterfeits. First alteration, as before, added mintmarks on common 1931P cents. Wrong shape, different color, tooling marks, or a seam around the mintmark are all signs of added mintmarks. Second common alteration is to reshape the 6 of a 1936S cent into a 1. Very easy to detect, the 3 is the wrong size and shape. I have seen one struck counterfeit, and it was crude. I have seen one spark erosion counterfeit, and while better than the struck counterfeit, it was also easy to spot. Most struck counterfeit coins are the correct weight because blanks are usually easy to find - especially with cents. The difference will be in the rims and softness of strike. Sand cast and spark erosion counterfeits have problems in the details - grainy details, etc. usually easy to spot.
The only way to fake a 1955
DDO with any level of confidence is a struck counterfeit...and most of those are too obvious to pass the eye of someone who knows what the rim of a late wheat looks like. Most of the counterfeits have either sharp rims like a proof, or have rims that look too thin and wire like. Study your normal cents closely and a struck counterfeit will stick out like a sore thumb...the doubling is just a clue that the coin is more likely a counterfeit than a normal coin of the same date would be...in other words, if you have a normal 1955 cent, 99.99% chance it's genuine. Use one to compare the look and feel to a 55
DDO before purchasing one raw. If it's counterfeit something will stick out at you and tell you so.
In my time I have seen over a hundred fakes and alterations. To date not one single
Lincoln Cent alteration or fake has escaped me in detecting it within a few short seconds. They are usually rather obvious and many are painfully easy to detect. Buy only from reputable dealers or collectors who know their stuff and have a very good return policy. Have any coins in question authenticated in a hurry, then return them if they aren't good with an explanation as to how they were determined to be bad. I will extend my services to anyone who needs expedited help with a possible problem key date coin.
And at last, I hate to be so blunt about this, but I'm gonna lay the truth out. This goes to everyone in the hobby, not anyone in particular. If you simply cannot find it within yourself to use enough sense to get used to the coins long enough to be able to detect the most common types of counterfeits and alterations before buying one, perhaps you're not yet ready to own one of the more expensive coins. Do yourself and everyone else a favor and get more education in detecting problems before you jump in. Numismatics is a hobby of education, patience, and a devotion to detail. Most of the problems associated with alterations are easy to see if you look and use your noodle. Anyone who just throws down their cash without doing the homework first is asking to be burned.
Posted 01/25/2006 1:59 pm
