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 Replies: 13 / Views: 4,188 |
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
877 Posts |
I just purchased some replica pennies for a friend as space fillers. 1925, 1930 and 1946. He will probably eventually get the others but a 1930 is beyond the reach of most collectors now. They were cheap enough -$7.00 each, including postage from Hong Kong However, when they arrived they were not stamped "replica' as per the photos in the advertisement. This almost certainly makes them illegal under Australian law. What concerns me is they certainly looked like genuine pennies, including toning and slight wear and (as best I could ascertain) the weight is correct within a fraction of a gram. I didn't put them under a high power magnifier or count the denticles or any ultra detailed inspection. Has anyone come across these? Importantly, does anyone know how to best differentiate between one of these forgeries (I think that term would apply here) and a genuine example? I could not see any unusual or extra mint marks, which I thought may have been included as an identifier. I have been keeping an eye out for reasonable priced '25 & '46 on ebay for my friend but now I wonder if any of these coins are being sold as genuine  Jeff |
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
2830 Posts |
G'day, scary story ...
quote: "... but now I wonder if any of these coins are being sold as genuine"
- sorry to say, but soonerner or later, someone will see the potential to turn a $7 replica into a tidy profit, and have the requisite lack of scruple to do so.
Peter
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Moderator
 Australia
16809 Posts |
Unlike the United States, there is no law in Australia that says replica coins must have "COPY" stamped onto them, or be in any way distinguishable from the real thing. And copies of predecimal coins are perfectly legal to import, export, buy, sell, and own, as far as Australian anti-counterfeiting laws are concerned. The only crime would occur if (I suppose I should say "when") such a replica is sold as a genuine coin, or if they replicated a decimal coin (decimal replicas are illegal, whether they've got "COPY" stamped on them or not).
As for telling the difference, there is no quick and easy way. The Chinese manufacturers are not consistent with their "products" - some Chinese fakes are obvious to spot, but others have been made with care, and you have to become an expert, very familiar with the genuine items, before you can spot them.
Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
2830 Posts |
G'day, sad to say, browsing a well-known-auction-site this morning, I see that the 1921* shilling is now available as a "replica". $7.99, post-free, from you-guessed-which-country.
Peter
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Valued Member
Australia
432 Posts |
Yep, the only ppl who REALLY benefit from this are the 'shaddy' sellers who claim to 'know nothing about coins' at coins fairs and on ebay, who end up ripping ppl off... If we were all honest however, these would be great gap fillers - shame not everyone is honest! |
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Valued Member
Australia
432 Posts |
Quote:
Importantly, does anyone know how to best differentiate between one of these forgeries (I think that term would apply here) and a genuine example? I recently bought some of these, just to have a peek... The first thing I noticed was the INCONSISTENCY of strike; the Half Penny I got was a good example. On the Reverse, all looked OK, except the 'P' in Penny, which was so weak, you could hardly make it out. The same effect could be seen on the obverse of one and the reverse of another of the Florin I got, again to the point where the lettering vanished into the field. The 1938 crown has a big 'chip' in it, so about 4 denticles were missing, below the 'C' of 'ONE CROWN'... So I contacted the seller about the lack of quality, got a crap reply (basically saying 'I am doing my best!') and sent them back for a full refund! So the Morale of the Story is, while the weights and sizes were pretty good, the quality of the strike is where these things are going to be noticed (perhaps planchet/blank issues?)... I probably should have sat down and counted denticles and made sure letters lined up with them, etc, but after seeing the crap strikes, I saw no point! I'm going to try again tho - there are a few sellers offering similar things and will post back when I find a forgery that actually could be mistaken as a real coin... Which honestly shouldnt be far away! As I said, sizes and weights were pretty good. A cursory glance at things like alignment, details, shapes of numbers, etc, didnt reveal anything that would act as a good marker - just the crap strike! |
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Valued Member
Australia
465 Posts |
I would never buy a replica. I would rather have the space. ...or a picture of the missing coin.
You are just feeding a market which is going to cause nothing but trouble.
Edited by dibby33
10/18/2009 11:49 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
1040 Posts |
I agree totally. There is no place for these forgeries and they have the potential to destroy the hobby. It should be illegal to sell them.
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New Member
Australia
4 Posts |
Hi Jeff.
I have a 1930 penny that was given to me in about 1966.
It came with a few other coins.
It was given to me by an elderly friend of the family.
I recently found it again while doing some spring cleaning.
As I have mentioned in another forum on this site, I know nothing about coins.
Your points about forgeries are well made.
I don't believe this is an asian forgery based on when it was given to me and by whom.
What types of forged or copied 1930 pennies were doing the rounds in the 50's and 60's in Australia?
Where could I take it to be examined?
I dare to dream.
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
1040 Posts |
If it was given to you in 1966, you had better take it to a dealer and have it examined. If you can post some good, clear pictures, we will be able to tell you if you are wasting your time. There are certain diagnostic indicators that will tell quickly if you are onto the real thing.
What city do you live in? We will be able to guide you to a reputable dealer.
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New Member
Australia
4 Posts |
Hi latman.
I am in Melbourne.
I am not to computer literate and will have to get a friend to upload the photos.
Thanks.
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
1040 Posts |
You can try Downies, IS Wright, Noble Numismatics, Peter Strich stamps and coins and coinworks (affiliated with Downies, but handles the more expensive coins, which yours will be if it is genuine). I live in Melbourne too and have dealt with all these companies. They will all have someone who can confirm if it is a genuine coin.
Do a Google search for Melbourne coin dealers and all these and a few more will come up.
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Pillar of the Community
 Australia
877 Posts |
I haven't had dealings with any of the others mentioned by Latman but have dealt several times with Peter Strich and he is a good honest dealer. Walter Eigner in Canberra is considered a foremost authority on rare Australian coins. http://www.numismatics.com.au/Definitely worth following up on the 1930; if genuine is worth at least about $20,000, even in a low grade. Jeff PS Zaggy. The Hong Kong replicas had a nice strong strike and looked like naturally aged/toned specimens. This person also offers a 1937, various ½pennies, shillings, florins and foreign currency replicas too! Edited by Jeff
11/10/2009 3:28 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
515 Posts |
My partner has just written an informative article on Fake 1934-5 Centenary Florins that were being sold on ebay a few months ago. It's an interesting read and explains in detail of what to look for in this key date Australian silver coin. http://www.australian-threepence.co...-florin.html |
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Replies: 13 / Views: 4,188 |
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Posted 07/13/2009 9:26 pm
