Twelve Mexican Forgeries

I just sent the following letter to the seller of 12 Mexican forgeries. There is one clear picture which is totally conclusive as to the origins of that one coin. It is absolutely a fake made in China - you can tell by the appearance of the rim area of the coin. He makes a point of saying that one coin is underweight - probably a white metal copy (tourist type) but the others are either made thicker or possibly are silver casts (numismatic type).

Here is the auction: http://cgi.ebay.com/12-1872-Mexican...RE_W0QQitemZ280021409008

Hello, The coins you have posted are most likely modern cast counterfeits made in China. The one clear photo shows the standard features of a cast copy on the edges of the coin. You should post a clearer scan of the coins and another scan showing the underweight version. I am a specialist collector of counterfeits and I encounter this particular variety very often. They typically range in weight from 17 to 28 grams depending upon the metal employed and the intended market. Some are actually produced in silver and those are more valuable because of the actual bullion value. I would suggest you do a specific gravity test on each to determine what you have. Bob - swamperbob - Gurney

The problem here is that the auction is located in the US not China and the seller has a reasonably good reputation. It could fool a novice.