Sometimes, a coin or medal reveals itself as a fake after just a casual glance - the medal presented here is one such piece.
I came across this one while perusing e-Bay and knew instantly that I was looking at a copy. The piece has multiple issues, but one of its most obvious is its overly wide rim borders. Genuine 1925 Norse-American Centennial medals do not have such wide borders. (See:
1925 Norse-American Centennial or
1925 Norse-American Centennial - Design Discussion to compare.)
When I encounter such fakes, I try to spread the word about them, but those who produce them will almost always win the race against the efforts of one collector!
So, don't fall prey to such offerings! Be familiar with the characteristics of what you are looking to purchase and always remember that if a deal seems to good to be true, there's probably an unfortunate reason! And, of course, let your fellow collectors know of suspicious offerings!
Copy of 1925 Norse-American Centennial Medal
Genuine 1925 Norse-American Centennial Silver Medal 
For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including more stories about genuine Norse-American medals, see:
Commems Collection.
Posted 03/29/2025 4:00 pm
