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How to Detect Counterfeit Coins

Coin collecting is both a fun and potentially profitable hobby. But because of the underground world of coin counterfeiting that fakes everything from modern-day American money to rare ancient coins, novice and even expert collectors should beware of coming across counterfeit coins, especially rare ones. Fortunately, if you arm yourself with the right knowledge, you can help decipher whether a coin is authentic or counterfeit. When in doubt, don't waste your money.

Instructions

- 1
  Learn which coins are most often counterfeited. If you have a rare coin that's often faked, odds are that it's a counterfeit. For a list of highly counterfeited coins, see the link in the Resources section.
- 2
  Look at the edge of the coin. There should be ridges around it if it's worth more than five cents. If there are no ridges, it could be an indication of a counterfeit, but continue looking for other signs before you draw a definite conclusion.
- 3
  Look for dimples, divots or scratches in the coin. Sometimes, when casting, counterfeiters will either alter cheap coins and turn them into more valuable ones, or they'll pour a mold. While doing either one of these, they run the risk of leaving visible errors on the coin.
- 4
  Compare it to a coin that you know is real. Make sure it's exactly the same diameter and that it weighs the same. If it's either too light or too heavy, it might be counterfeit.
- 5
  Feel the coin. Your fingers shouldn't be able to easily slide across the coin as if it's made of wax; there should be some resistance. If the surface is too smooth, the coin could be fake.
- 6
  Take it into a professional coin dealer. If all else fails, and you still can't tell if it's real or fake, most expert collectors, traders or appraisers will be willing to take a look at it for you -- especially if it's rare.

Coin Collecting