Tag Archives: Chinese counterfeit coin

Counterfeit 1943 Copper Cents

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As a member of several Facebook coin groups, I see 1943 P/D/S replicas and, on occasion, die struck Chinese counterfeits. Yet many new collectors claim to have found these ultra rarities, believing they struck it rich. They have been informed by click-bait posts and videos telling viewers that these rarities will turn up in rolls and pocket change.

What turns up are replicas, altered dates, copper plated steel cents and die-struck copper counterfeits.

Approximately 40 copper-alloy cents were accidentally minted across all three U.S. Mints (Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco) in 1943. The 1943-D is the rarest (1 known), while 1943-S (San Francisco) is exceptionally rare (fewer than 5 known). Some 20+ 1943 cents are said to exist.

Types of Fake Coins

Copper plated zinc cents cost less than $10 on Etsy and other sites. These are replicas, as in the photo below.

Chinese counterfeiters have perfected their craft making fake 1943 P/D/S “copper” cents.

Common production methods include:

  • Striking on Non-Magnetic Blanks: Counterfeiters use copper or bronze blanks to strike fake coins. Unlike genuine 1943 steel cents that are magnetic, these fakes will not stick to a magnet as if genuine copper.
  • Transfer Die Technology: Counterfeiters often use transfer dies, taking a genuine 1943 steel cent and pressing it into a heated, metal to create an exact negative image of the coin. Then they strike copper or bronze copies.
  • Copper Plating: Counterfeiters also take common 1943 steel pennies and coating them in a thin layer of copper. These, however, will still be magnetic.
  • Date Alteration: Some forgers take genuine copper pennies from 1945, 1948, or 1949 and manually rework the last digit into a “3.”

The latest threat involves advanced operations in China with minting equipment on par with the US Mint.

Simple detection methods include using

  1. A magnet. If the coin sticks to it, it isn’t copper.
  2. A coin scale to see if your specimen weighs 3.1 grams. (Steel cents weigh 2.7 grams.)
  3. A lupe to view the date and to detect if it has been altered.

Here’s an example of a 1948 cent altered to look like a 1943 copper cent weighing 3.1 grams and passes the magnet test:

1943 Copper Cent

A more advanced method to detect counterfeits concerns die markers.

This person claims to have found a 1943 copper cent below. The date on genuine copper and steel cents are the same. Also, on the 1943 cent, the word “liberty” is strongly struck without die deterioration. Here is his counterfeit:

Here’s how to check using die markers:

As you can see, the “9” in the counterfeit is lower than the “9” of the steel an genuine cent.

1943-D Copper Cent

Only one 1943-D Copper Cent has been found. Again, the market is flooded with thousands of replicas and counterfeits.

A genuine 1943-D copper cent would have the exact same date position as a 1943-D steel cent. Because both coins were struck using the same dies, the alignment and shape of the digits must be identical. 

This fake was posted on Facebook:

You can see that the date and mintmark differ from the sole authentic one:

The counterfeit is also affirmed when compared with the date and mintmark position of the 1943-D Steel Cent:

1943-S Copper Cent

Genuine 1943-S copper cents are very rare, with fewer than 5 known. Look for faint doubling on the date and die scratches near the motto and wheat stalks.

Another die marker on some 1943-S copper cents is a tilted “S.”

Odds of finding any of these ultra rarities are minimal. Consider the tens of thousands of replicas, altered dates, plated steel cents and die-struck counterfeits as opposed to the handful of genuine rarities that actually have been slabbed. Nevertheless, if you still believe you have one of the dozen or so lost genuine 1943 copper cents, send to PCGS, CAC, ANACS or NGC for the verdict.

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Counterfeit 1851 C-1 Half Cent

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By Jack Riley

New waves of counterfeit coins continue to show up routinely and can be a challenge to keep up with! A recent counterfeit 1851 half cent surfaced online and caught some attention. Pictured below is the counterfeit example (top image) compared to a genuine example (bottom image).

Genuine image courtesy of PCGS

With only one die pair being the C-1 to compare it to, something is clearly off. The reverse letters appear “bubbly” while the letters are not crisp. The obverse stars show similar features, combing that with minor surface issues tells the story. The rims also appear filed down.

Searching more photos led to identifying a total of 4 coins from this potential “family,” with two being offered on various online sites. One example was posted to an online forum in 2018. The subject example for this article was presented on Facebook.

As always in this situation, I search for “Sister Marks” as counterfeit expert Jack Young would call them, repeating circulation marks that are not identifiers for a genuine die pair. That search did not disappoint!

Two obverse depressions on the chin and neck are quick to notice, which led to me referring to this as “Dimple Chin”. The reverse markers include a major depression mark in the “i” of “America” and the “O” in “OF.” A damaged area on the left leg of “H” in “Half” and lump above “A.” The line through A may not be seen on examples with false circulation wear.

Below are the original example and from an online forum. All markers noted are highlighted in red.

Here we have two examples exhibiting false circulation wear. Note the A “Slash” may not be seen.

One may ask “Where do these come from?” You too can purchase one on eBay that ships directly from China!

I’ve personally only seen this on coins dated 1851. It’s very likely other Braided Hair Half Cents exist with both this counterfeit obverse and reverse. Stay diligent friends!

Visit Proxiblog for more articles about counterfeit coins by Michael Bugeja, Jack D. Young and Jack Riley. To receive our free weekly newsletter, please friend us on Facebook and subscribe to Proxiblog.