Counterfeit Coin Articles

Buyer Beware

October 7, 2025

4 min read

One of the most frustrating obstacles in numismatics is counterfeits, and no place is more notorious for selling them than eBay.

Buyer Beware

1929 Saint-Gaudens Gold $20

October 1, 2025

2 min read

A closer look at this 1929 Saint-Gaudens double eagle reveals that this fake was created with dies made from scratch.

1929 Saint-Gaudens Gold $20

Italy 1928-R 20 Lire

September 10, 2025

1 min read

Rough surfaces, a wispy date, and missing dots are some of the major clues that indicate this Italy 1928-R 20 lire is a fake.

Italy 1928-R 20 Lire

1920 Walking Liberty Half Dollar

August 5, 2025

1 min read

A fake 1920 Walking Liberty half dollar serves as a reminder that counterfeiters don’t just target key dates.

1920 Walking Liberty Half Dollar

1878-CC Morgan Dollar

July 14, 2025

2 min read

The reverse of a purported 1878-CC Morgan dollar holds some important clues that point to the coin’s spurious nature.

1878-CC Morgan Dollar

Papal States (1676) Piastra

June 2, 2025

2 min read

Numismatic Guaranty Company recently received a purported example of a rare Papal States piastra in a submission from a large auction house.

Papal States (1676) Piastra

Netherlands 1898 10 Gulden

May 2, 2025

2 min read

NGC recently received a purported example of a Netherlands 1898 10 gulden that appears to have been made with the transfer-die process.

Netherlands 1898 10 Gulden

1943 Bronze Lincoln Cent

April 4, 2025

2 min read

The king of U.S. Mint errors is the 1943 bronze cent, and counterfeiters have attempted to cash in on the excitement of this storied coin.

1943 Bronze Lincoln Cent

1893-CC Morgan Dollar

March 7, 2025

2 min read

Numismatic Guaranty Company recently received a purported example of the 1893-CC business-strike Morgan dollar.

1893-CC Morgan Dollar

1869-S Seated Liberty Quarter

February 4, 2025

2 min read

Numismatic Guaranty Company recently received a purported example of an 1869-S quarter, and plenty of clues point to its true origins.

1869-S Seated Liberty Quarter

Hiding in Plain Sight: An Introduction to Counterfeits

January 14, 2025

3 min read

Hiding amongst your collection or in online coin listings, counterfeits can add significant challenges to buying and selling coins.

Hiding in Plain Sight: An Introduction to Counterfeits

Washington Presidential Dollar

January 6, 2025

2 min read

NGC received a purported example of a Washington Presidential dollar that can be easily identified as a counterfeit by its design variations.

Washington Presidential Dollar

Counterfeit Detection

Buyer Beware

1929 Saint-Gaudens Gold $20

Italy 1928-R 20 Lire

1920 Walking Liberty Half Dollar

1878-CC Morgan Dollar

Papal States (1676) Piastra

Netherlands 1898 10 Gulden

1943 Bronze Lincoln Cent

1893-CC Morgan Dollar

1869-S Seated Liberty Quarter

Hiding in Plain Sight: An Introduction to Counterfeits

Washington Presidential Dollar