Counterfeit $2.5 Gold: Weighs the Same as Real

I am considering paying melt value for the counterfeit piece, but need to know if it is gold (not gold-plated) and if it is 90%. The weight is prety much dead on. Sounds like gold, too compared to the known real one. Going to a place to see if the gold is real, and if it is, if it is 90%. I have a fake and a real one side by side, including rims. See for yourself. Can you spot the fake? And why???

 

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Fake one on the left(?)

 

Chef had to change his headdress for his later years .

 

There are some metals with similar density to gold. Tungsten is almost the same.
It may not be gold all the way through.

 

The one on the left is counterfeit. I would not touch it as it seems unlikely that a counterfeit gold piece would be have the same precious metal composition.

 

The 1926, made in Lebanon in the early ‘70’s. Mushy details.

 

Chef?
or Chief ? LOL

 

The left one is the fake. Weak looking, designers initials not on coin and parts look raised, not inclused.

 

I wouldn't buy a fake even if it was gold and at melt value.

I'd have to think the gold was stolen and re-cast to hide its past. Otherwise, why re-cast a gold coin that basically sells for melt? I have 6 Indian Head $2.50 coins which are worth ~$300-$350. The local coin shows will have hundreds of them FS.

 

Check specific gravity to tell if it is at least 90% gold. Then pay no more than 95% of melt. Odds of it being Tungsten is nil.

 

If it is in fact a Lebanese fake, I believe those were made with correct gold content.

Definitely worth getting it checked!

 

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A number of these Middle Eastern fakes ended up in the US, where private ownership of gold was illegal until December 31, 1974. Many of them were likely imported by people who wanted to own gold coins, but could not legally acquire genuine US gold coins domestically.

 

Minor point of addition - collectible gold coins were allowed to own. Thus, these fakes were made to look like rare collectibles. We weren't allowed to own bullion, like the Krugerrand, but we were allowed to own collectible coins.

 

Very cool. I love contemporary counterfeits. I believe this kind of qualifies as one.

 

How could a counterfeiter go to such lengths then *forget* to put the initials on...?!

 

Because these coins weren't made to fool collectors. That was not their intent. They just had to be good enough to look close to the original.

 

I believe @physics-fan3.14 is correct. At any rate, I'm not seeing the designers initials.

 

Yes, FDR did ban private ownership of gold in 1933 after the U.S. Mint offered 445K 1933 $20 Saint-Gaudens (very valuable). Yet, there are millions of older U.S. minted gold coins selling today for melt and above.

The average American will ignore the law when they don't agree (beer and liquor during prohibition, guns after the Gun Control Act of 1968..).

It's just my opinion that I wouldn't own a fake. There are plenty real ones in the market which you don't have to mention that it is a fake if you decide to sell it.

 

I buy known counterfeits for about a dollar fifty each regardless of what denomination it is. I enjoy studying them to figure out on my own why they are fake and even make a good guess as to how they were made. I know many people think I am wrong for collecting counterfeits, but to do so to study them and learn from them I feel is just as much important is getting to know why real ones are real

 

Update...

I brought all the 6 Trade dollars, the 2 Morgans, and the 2 gold pieces to Jack Hunt Gold & Silver in Buffalo, who is one of the top precious metals and precious metal coin buyers/dealers in the entire U.S.

They ran all the coins at no charge as a favor to me today through a Fischerscope Xan machine (read about it here: http://www.fischer-technology.com/e...t/desktop-measurement-instruments/xan-series/ ). This machine can tell if it is gold vs. gold plated, and measures the purity as well including many other uses.

RESULTS: All the fake trade dollars are 90-91% silver, the fake Morgans are not silver at all (not even plated), and the 2 fake gold pieces....91% gold!

That's right. Fake coins, but 90% pure in precious metal content (except the 2 Morgans). These will make great examples to study from compared to genuine pieces, and a nice sub-part of my collection.