Posted 10/15/2009 1:50 pm
Jays-Dad I am way out of my normal area of expertise when commenting on a Korean coin. However, that being said, a counterfeit coin sometimes has a "certain look". I own and have authenticated 10s of thousands of coins in the past 50 plus years, so at times I get a feeling that is hard to put in words, but something about this coin looks really fishy.
Perhaps it is the color which puts me off or the odd reflection of light (a dead looking coin). But I think what bothers me most is the wide rim and the lack of proof luster between the lettering in the protected areas of the coin. The wide rim is a result of the fact that most Chinese knock-offs are made using presses with a series of "standard sized" coining chambers. The rim here simply looks a fraction of a millimeter too thick to my eye. The "luster" in the protected areas looks frosty not mirror like. The mirror surface of a high quality proof takes time to completely wear off and I do not see enough high point wear to match the lack of luster. In actuality the luster I see looks like the surface of one of the Chinese transfer dies made by one of the better forgers.
It is of course IMPOSSIBLE to be 100% certain of any coin from a picture - but personally, I would treat this coin as an oriental knock off until proven otherwise.
You could ask the seller if he would have the coin CERTIFIED by ANACS before you complete the sale - offer to split the costs it the coin is real. But only pay AFTER the coin is encapsulated.
Perhaps it is the color which puts me off or the odd reflection of light (a dead looking coin). But I think what bothers me most is the wide rim and the lack of proof luster between the lettering in the protected areas of the coin. The wide rim is a result of the fact that most Chinese knock-offs are made using presses with a series of "standard sized" coining chambers. The rim here simply looks a fraction of a millimeter too thick to my eye. The "luster" in the protected areas looks frosty not mirror like. The mirror surface of a high quality proof takes time to completely wear off and I do not see enough high point wear to match the lack of luster. In actuality the luster I see looks like the surface of one of the Chinese transfer dies made by one of the better forgers.
It is of course IMPOSSIBLE to be 100% certain of any coin from a picture - but personally, I would treat this coin as an oriental knock off until proven otherwise.
You could ask the seller if he would have the coin CERTIFIED by ANACS before you complete the sale - offer to split the costs it the coin is real. But only pay AFTER the coin is encapsulated.
