Are Counterfeiters/Forgers Picking Our Brains?

One of the things that most collectors seem to be unaware of is that there ARE counterfeit coins already in the marketplace that CAN NOT be distinguished from originals.

When this happens (a counterfeit passes as an original) prices fall - that is simple supply and demand. It happened with the 1950D nickels when counterfeits flooded the market in the late 1960's.

I believe the reason that the Portrait 8R coins from Mexico are still comparatively cheap is because the Boston type counterfeits (replicas or restrikes if you prefer) were silver and were so well made that the average collector and dealer can not tell originals from the fakes. Secondly because MILLIONS of restrikes were made to satisfy the Chinese demand for silver in trade - the Restrikes are likely as common if not MORE common than originals.

I am one of the first people (in this generation anyway) that is trying to publicize the existence of these "restrikes". I first heard of them in 1960 and when I learned authentication - they were known if not WELL KNOWN. One thing you will notice if you stay in this business long enough is that Numismatists seem to be constantly REDISCOVERING facts that were once well known but not published on a widespread basis.

I fear a lot of people simply do not want to know. It complicates their lives. How many 100 or 1000s of these Restrikes have been encapsulated as original by TPGs will never be known. But I do know that NEARLY EVERY collection I have examined contains a few of the "Boston" types.

Perhaps it is NOT a fight that I can win but I am enjoying the hunt for facts and researching older numismatic works.

That may be partly true, but the Omega gold would prolly be a better example.

In the early 60s, a dealer told me he'd sell an average of three rolls of bu 50ds @$1100 for every single at $27.50.

When there are 120 coins investor hands for every single demanded by a collector, something's gotta "give".