Category Archives: Jack Riley Reports

These post are written by expert numismatist and counterfeit detective Jack Riley. He reports on how to detect fake coins. See his posts to learn how to authenticate coins.

Counterfeit  Bicentennial Dollar

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By Jack Riley

Key date coins are a target for counterfeiters with a large profit to be made, but what about common date coins? Well, nothing is safe!

This article doesn’t focus on a connected “family,” rather a specific coin. This Bicentennial Eisenhower Dollar was previously shared in a Facebook group and many were shocked to learn that it is in fact counterfeit!

One may notice at a glance many raised “lumps” across the obverse fields and a large tell of the distended letters primary in “One Dollar”.

This surely isn’t a “one off” piece. I haven’t found a second example of one surface since this one so additional repeating marks are inconclusive. I suspect the diagonal notch through “trust” will be seen on all examples using this obverse.

Why would China counterfeit a common dollar like this?

Many hobbyists think that a high value of a coin makes it a candidate for counterfeiters. Counterfeiters take advantage of this false sense of security. The coin here probably was part of a complete set that someone purchased, realized the deception, and used or sold.

It costs about a dime to a quarter to make these dollars. Sell one, even for a dollar, and you have a substantial profit.

If you like posts like this, please go to our counterfeit archive with reports from Jack Riley, Jack D. Young, John Lorenzo and Michael Bugeja. Also, please subscribe so you be informed whenever there is a new article or column.

Proxiblog also has thousands of followers on Facebook Coin Groups, YouTube and social media. To get the latest discussion and commentary, be sure to friend us by clicking here.

You can find more information about errors and varieties as well as buying and bidding on coins in Coin News Updated: The Essential Guide to Online Bidding. Please consider purchasing the work for yourself or a friend, as it underwrites this hobbyist website. Thank you.

Common Mercury Dime Counterfeits

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Key date coins are commonly counterfeited and should be viewed with scrutiny. This subject example of a 1916-D Mercury Dime surfaced and what many would call a “one glance” counterfeit.

The mintmark punch for the 1916-D is easily recognizable, along with 4 mintmark positions for genuine coins. This clearly isn’t a genuine mintmark and as one can tell by the surface quality the coin itself is a counterfeit.

This is one seen routinely through various Facebook groups, you would be hard pressed not to see one of these shared weekly. It isn’t just the key dates targeted (although that is the primary targets). Image comparison of a 1916-D, 1921-D, and 1939-D pictured below. A common reverse with a “bad” mintmark and small surface lump to the right of E.

Common markers in Red:

  • Surface lump to the right of E of ONE
  • Deformed mintmark shape and placement

Markers In Green indicate features not present on all examples. In this case two cracks running though U in “UNITED” and the A in “STATES”.

If you would like to know more about 1916-D markers, click here.

If you like posts like this, please go to our counterfeit archive with reports from Jack Riley, Jack D. Young, John Lorenzo and Michael Bugeja. Also, please subscribe so you be informed whenever there is a new article or column.

Proxiblog also has thousands of followers on Facebook Coin Groups, YouTube and social media. To get the latest discussion and commentary, be sure to friend us by clicking here.

You can find more information about errors and varieties as well as buying and bidding on coins in Coin News Updated: The Essential Guide to Online Bidding. Please consider purchasing the work for yourself or a friend, as it underwrites this hobbyist website. Thank you.

Counterfeit 1881-S Morgan Dollars

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A recent eBay listing of a counterfeit 1909-S VDB cent sparked me to look at the rest of this particular seller’s offerings. They had nearly half of a dozen 1881-S Morgan Dollars along with a few counterfeits of other series. The 1881-S is a relatively common coin and easily found in high mint state grades; one wouldn’t expect to stumble across a counterfeit. The first image is of one of the represented coins.

A comparison of three of the coins tells the tale. Given the scratches, dings and random “circulation” marks, this isn’t a mix up of images. There are three separate coins.

Anyone who does a lot of variety attributions of Morgan Dollars will know that 1881-S is a difficult year to attribute and generally won’t be done just by a glance like some dates. All examples from this eBay seller exhibit the same repeated contact marks.

Notable obverse marks:

  • Line through S
  • Surface scratch left of U
  • Small surface mark between right star 5 and 6

Notable reverse marks:

  • Small scratch below the base of S
  • Field dot between U-N and above U
  • Minute surface flaws between E-D

If you like posts like this, you can read more articles on counterfeit coins by Jack D. Young, Jack Riley and Michael Bugeja at this URL. Also, please subscribe so you can be informed whenever there is a new article or column.

Proxiblog also has thousands of followers on Facebook Coin Groups, YouTube and other venues. To get the latest discussion and commentary, be sure to friend us by clicking here.

You can find more information about errors and varieties as well as buying and bidding on coins in Coin News Updated: The Essential Guide to Online Bidding. Please consider purchasing the work for yourself or a friend, as it underwrites this hobbyist website. Thank you.

Family of Fake Lincoln Cents

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By Jack Riley

Prompting this article is a 1914-D cent that a friend shared in a large Facebook coin group. After I explained that this was not genuine, I received additional closeup images for analysis.

A closeup image of the date and mintmark shows this coin is not a genuine 1914-D. The shape and placement of the mintmark is incorrect. This, however, is not the case of an altered date or an added mintmark; the entire coin is counterfeit.

This 1931-S had surfaced on eBay within the last few months. Comparing both reverses it is clear these were produced from the same makers and related to a large “family” of counterfeits. I’m calling this family “Notched O.” More on that momentarily.

The image quality of the 1931-S is subpar, leaving blurry images, yet enough to discern the repeating marks.

“Common marks” highlighted in Red:

  • Depression in O
  • Dent in “N” as well as the “O” in the word OF
  • Small indent of the “E”

At this writing I’ve only seen this on both 1914-D and 1931-S. Likely this exists on many key and semi key dates as well.

To check if your coin may belong to this “fugazi” (i.e. “fake”), look for those common marks highlighted above in red.

If you like posts like this, you can read more articles on counterfeit coins by Jack D. Young, Jack Riley and Michael Bugeja at this URL. Also, please subscribe so you can be informed whenever there is a new article or column.

Proxiblog also has thousands of followers on Facebook Coin Groups, YouTube and other venues. To get the latest discussion and commentary, be sure to friend us by clicking here.

You can find more information about errors and varieties as well as buying and bidding on coins in Coin News Updated: The Essential Guide to Online Bidding. Please consider purchasing the work for yourself or a friend, as it underwrites this hobbyist website. Thank you.

 

An extensive “Family” of counterfeit Washington Quarters

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By Jack Riley

This article stems from a “copy” stamped key date 1932-D Washington Quarter. This abides by the Hobby Protection Act and isn’t to deceive anyone. As we know, counterfeiters don’t abide by the law!

The next example was sent to me by a friend. Highlighted obverse markers match the previous “copy.”

An example surfaced on eBay from a rather large seller. After a brief discussion with them showing this to be a counterfeit they removed the listing. The obverse shares a couple repeating marks, but we see additional ones to be used in the future. The reverse is a match to the example shared to be by a fellow collector.

Another internet venue provides us images of a 1932-S that shares this “common obverse.” Highlighted in green are repeating marks for this reverse.

It isn’t only key date coins that counterfeiters target! This 1936-S shares the same reverse as the aforementioned 1932s.

Keep in mint that shopping venues Temu and Etsy sell thousands of replicas, some die struck, further eroding the hobby market.

It is also important to learn die markers for the 1932-D and S key dates. Click here for that.

f you like posts like this, you can read more articles on counterfeit coins by Jack D. Young, Jack Riley and Michael Bugeja at this URL. Also, please subscribe so you can get our weekly newsletter and be informed whenever there is a new article or column.

Proxiblog also has thousands of followers on Facebook Coin Groups, YouTube and other venues. To get the latest discussion and commentary, be sure to friend us by clicking here.

You can find more information about errors and varieties as well as buying and bidding on coins in Coin News Updated: The Essential Guide to Online Bidding. Please consider purchasing the work for yourself or a friend, as it underwrites this hobbyist website. Thank you.

Primer on “Not PCGS” Fakes

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This video documents the various ways to identify fake Chinese holders and coins, including lack of logos on slab, pasted Gold Shield sticker, wrong fonts, wrong 1921 label, wrong reverse and so much more. Below the video is a an example of a Carson City Morgan dollar with six significant problems signifying a counterfeit.

This coin was posted on a Facebook coin group feed.

WRONG FONT

Missing NFC Logo

PCGS Cert Shows Different Coin

QR Code Opens to Chinese Fake Certification Site

For more in-depth analysis, see “Detecting Counterfeit Coins.“

If you like posts like this, you can read more articles on counterfeit coins by Jack D. Young, Jack Riley and Michael Bugeja at this URL. Also, please subscribe so you can get our weekly newsletter and be informed whenever there is a new article or column.

Proxiblog also has thousands of followers on Facebook Coin Groups, YouTube and other venues. To get the latest discussion and commentary, be sure to friend us by clicking here.

You can find more information about errors and varieties as well as buying and bidding on coins in Coin News Updated: The Essential Guide to Online Bidding. Please consider purchasing the work for yourself or a friend, as it underwrites this hobbyist website. Thank you.

Counterfeit Lafayette Dollars

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By Jack Riley

Internet venues often give rather interesting finds. In this case, modern counterfeit Lafayette Dollars.

The Lafayette Dollar was the first U.S. commemorative silver dollar, and the first coin to feature an American citizen (Lafayette; made honorary citizen by Congress) and a U.S. President (Washington) together. Add to that its scarcity in mint condition due to low sales and melting.

So this coin is a target of counterfeiters.

The image below is from a semi-large eBay seller who has a number of legitimate coins listed; however, in the mix of these there lies a counterfeit Lafayette Dollar. If anyone wants to authenticate a Lafayette Dollar there are 5 known DuVall varieties and that can be sourced from VAMWorld; these examples do not attribute.

A comparable example below is sourced from a larger Facebook coin group. Presented as s questionable, the coin at a glance looks suspicious.

Comparing the two “coins” we can see a few repeating marks highlighted in green:

  • Depression in A
  • Small circular dot behind the eye
  • Depression on the top of the tail
  • Two sporadic field dots above the date

This third example below clearly stated “copy” and was derived from another online source known for selling counterfeit U.S. coins. Additional markers in red denote common similarities; yet these did not appear present on the eBay example. They are present on the piece shared in the large group.

Highlighted repeating marks in red:

  • Lines protruding from ETT
  • Spike from T
  • Apparently scratch from behind the shoulder
  • “Boot Spur”

If you spot a counterfeit coin on eBay, report it immediately using the “Report Item” link on the listing to eBay’s Trust & Safety team.

If you like posthttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D131V2QRs like this, you can read more articles on counterfeit coins by Jack D. Young, Jack Riley and Michael Bugeja at this URL. Also, please subscribe so you can be informed whenever there is a new article or column.

Proxiblog also has hundreds of followers on Facebook Coin Groups. To get the latest discussion and commentary, be sure to friend us by clicking here.

You can find more information about errors and varieties as well as buying and bidding on coins in Coin News Updated: The Essential Guide to Online Bidding. Please consider purchasing the work for yourself or a friend, as it underwrites this hobbyist website. Thank you.

Struck Counterfeit 1875cc C-17 Trade Dollars

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By Jack Riley

This started on December 26, 2024, when I stumbled across an eBay listing of two Trade Dollars. Both “Bodybagged” by two separate TPG services. NGC returned one as “altered surfaces” and PCGS as “questionable authenticity.” Upon reviewing the images and referencing John Coxe’s attribution guide to Trade Dollar varieties, they didn’t match any known variety.

After a while of internet browsing I stumbled across a Heritage Auction listing of this previously unknown variety. After correspondence with John Coxe, I learned this new genuine variety is to be listed as the 1875cc C-17 when the SSDC site is updated as the last update was in 2022.

NGC example

PCGS example

Now to the coins! Not only did these two match a C-17 but they shared a number of circulation marks indicative of counterfeits. Interestingly both passed a sigma test for 90% silver, along with weight and dimensions being within tolerance of genuine Trade Dollars.

Sigma Metalytics test

Upon review of the obverse, I found there are a number of characteristics indicating these are struck counterfeits. I highlight three primary pickup points of the obverse to distinguish these from genuine counterparts.

  • Indentation in the denticle below the base of 1
  • Depression in the center below Liberty’s knew
  • Field depression adjacent to the star and forehead

Reviewing both examples, the reverse shares a number of repeating circulation marks. However, many are minute and difficult to photograph. Primary pickups are as followed:

  • Linear depression of the 9 in “900”
  • Diagonal line through “R” in the motto

After sharing these with my friend Jack Young another example surfaced on Ebay a short time later. Now residing in a private collection it is safe from the market!

In preparation of this updated article an example surfaced on eBay certified by PCGS. This is the only example I have seen of this in an authentic TPG holder. It is noteworthy to mention the certification photo indicates it was certified in PCGS’s Chinese facility.

With only a few of these struck counterfeits being seen within the last year, it is safe to assume more exist and may already be in private collections. While the genuine variety itself appears to be scarce, it is unlikely to stumble across one of the struck counterfeits, but nothing is impossible. Actually a very easy variety to spot with CC set further right than any other variety of the date along with a hub break of the “I” of “UNITED”.

If you like posts like this, you can read more articles on counterfeit coins by Jack D. Young, Jack Riley and Michael Bugeja at this URL. Also, please subscribe so you can be informed whenever there is a new article or column.

Proxiblog also has thousands of followers on Facebook Coin Groups and across social media. To get the latest discussion and commentary, be sure to friend us by clicking here.

You can find more information about errors and varieties as well as buying and bidding on coins in Coin News Updated: The Essential Guide to Online Bidding. Please consider purchasing the work for yourself or a friend, as it underwrites this hobbyist website. Thank you.

NOT NGC 1909s VDB

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By Jack Riley

My daily internet browsing yields some interesting finds. Occasionally some nice varieties and of course a number of counterfeits. On my routine search of counterfeit 1909s VDB cents this example surfaced.

As we recommended to all collectors when looking at third party graded coins to always check the cert number. The cert matches an NGC authenticated example.

I shared the images with fellow Proxiblog contributor Jack Young and he made this collage image. eBay counterfeit example on the left and genuine NGC example on the right. Quoting Jack “A swing and a miss.”

So this obviously is not a genuine NGC authenticated example, nor is this a legitimate NGC holder! So one may ask “Is the coin real?” Well, no it isn’t. The images provided were very blurry and difficult to distinguish which related “family” it belonged to. What is visible and discernible is it shares a common obverse that is mismatched across the series with an indentation on Lincoln’s lapel.

The 1909-S VDB is the most counterfeited coin exported from China. In addition to fakes, they make die stuck replicas–sometimes with all die markers, sometimes not. It takes an expert eye to detect them. And as I now show, they sometimes come in NGC and PCGS fake holders.

Checking the cert is important. NGC shows photos of its slabbed coins. PCGS shows photos only if TrueView accompanies the coin. That makes China fakes in PCGS holders suspect. Often, however, the counterfeit holders lack accurate bar codes and other insignia.

The best way to guard against buying a counterfeit coin is to purchase one from a reputable dealer. Barring that, view my and Jack Young’s and Michael Bugeja’s articles on counterfeit coins published by Proxiblog.

If you like posts like this, please subscribe so you can be informed whenever there is a new article or column.

Proxiblog also has more than a thousand friends and followers on Facebook Coin Groups and thousands more across YouTube and social media. To get the latest discussion and commentary, be sure to friend us by clicking here.

You can find more information about errors and varieties as well as buying and bidding on coins in Coin News Updated: The Essential Guide to Online Bidding. Please consider purchasing the work for yourself or a friend, as it underwrites this hobbyist website. Thank you.

Counterfeit “Lumped Wheat” Stalk Reverse

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By Jack Riley

I enjoy browsing through various Facebook coin groups and seeing what collectors have acquired and enjoy. While scrolling through a rather large group I came across a post where a fellow collector had completed his Lincoln Wheat Cent collection. A major milestone for any collector! In the mix was a 1909s Cent, about which I commented, and later had a private message conversation explaining that this was a counterfeit and showed proof.

He stated it was bought on eBay from a non-reputable seller in a “shotgun roll.” These are rolls of wheat cents hand assembled with generally a nicer condition coin or key date on the ends. This fell within the 30-day return policy so the collector should get his money back after returning the coins to the seller.

Another online venue offered this counterfeit 1909s. Both coins share a common reverse that has been known for awhile.

Image comparison of both coins show many repeating marks. Highlighted in green are common to all coins with this reverse and include:

  • Lump at the edge of wheat stalk
  • Small lump inside of ONE

Highlighted in red are common but not seen on all examples.

  • Crack from the rim to Wheat stalk
  • Extending Crack through the stalk to the field

Being the Lincoln Cent series is one of the most popular to collectors and many key/semi key dates are needed to complete the set, it is of no surprise this counterfeit family is extensive. Other dates that have been seen from this family include the 1931s, 1955 “DDO”, and 1924D cents imaged below.

A close-up collage of identifying marks.

If anyone thought it was just key/semi key dates that are counterfeited, you would be wrong. Here is a common date 1958 exhibiting the “Lumped reverse.”

For more information, including die markers, see Michael Bugeja’s post, titled, “Identifying Fake 1909-S VDB Cents.” Now collectors have two comprehensive articles about this key date. Proxiblog strongly encourages any Lincoln cent collector to read and refer to these two articles before bidding on any raw 1909-S VDB. Also, make sure to check the certification to ensure that the holder also is not counterfeit.

Proxiblog advises newer collectors to follow these general guidelines:

  1. If you are ready to bid hundreds of dollars on a coin, resist buying a raw one and shop for one holdered by PCGS, NGC, ANACS and CAC.
  2. Be especially careful when purchasing raw coins from eBay and other online venues. AI bots cannot detect counterfeits, so you are on your own.
  3. Make sure the seller takes returns and has good reviews. Also, the number of positive reviews is a good indicator. If someone has 0 sales or even fewer than 100, do not take a chance.
  4. If you already bought the coin, weigh it and go to PCGS CoinFacts for the date and mintmark, checking your coin against weights and dimensions.
  5. Read this article about detecting counterfeits.

If you like posts like this, you can read more articles on counterfeit coins by Jack Riley, Jack D. Young and Michael Bugeja at this URL. Also, please subscribe so you can get our weekly newsletter and be informed whenever there is a new article or column.

Proxiblog also has more than a thousand friends and followers on Facebook Coin Groups and thousands more across YouTube and social media. To get the latest discussion and commentary, be sure to friend us by clicking here.

You can find more information about errors and varieties as well as buying and bidding on coins in Coin News Updated: The Essential Guide to Online Bidding. Please consider purchasing the work for yourself or a friend, as it underwrites this hobbyist website. Thank you.