Re: So how would you know a fake?


jim menning wrote:

Fakes are counterfeits, and as such are often illegal. Reproductions and replicas
(not called "fakes") are a collectible class all their own. The newer laws require
replicas to have a clear indication that they are not original on the piece itself,
to avoid being passed off as a real coin. You'll note in the 1914-D auction you
reference the word "COPY" boldly struck into the reverse of the token.

Even experienced collectors can occasionally be fooled by a good fake.

Gallery Mint makes some of the best reproductions out there. They have
even been
slabbed by TPG (you know who!). Their 1793 Chain Cent, 1804 Dollar are
superb! I
will never own the real ones, and these are gorgeous. I have only a
few GM 'coins',
some intentional errors. Ron Landis and Joe Rust (RIP) excel at their
respective
crafts.

.