Fighting Fakes

The Anti-Counterfeiting Educational Foundation (ACEF) recognized collector Jack Young of Dayton, Ohio, and coin dealer Matt Dinger of Indianapolis, Indiana, with its Alan Kreuzer Memorial Award for their efforts in educating the public about counterfeit coins and exposing fakes in the marketplace. Named after the late dealer Alan “Al” Kreuzer, the award highlights individuals for their outstanding contributions to the numismatic community in combating counterfeits.

The honors were presented during a special awards ceremony on September 26 at the Great American Coin and Collectibles Show in Rosemont, Illinois. 

Young, a longtime researcher and writer, has published over 100 articles and founded two Facebook groups—The Dark Side and Fun with Fakes—to help educate collectors about counterfeits. His work has supported ACEF initiatives and assisted U.S. government agencies in understanding the threat of counterfeits.

Dinger, co-owner of Lost Dutchman Rare Coins and co-host of The Coin Show Podcast, has worked for over two decades in coin authentication and educating the public. He has also served as a consultant to the U.S. Secret Service, FBI, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service on investigations dealing with crimes related to counterfeiting, thefts, and numismatic scams.