Reference Guide
Documented Counterfeit and Altered US Coins: A Reference Guide
No government agency, grading service, or numismatic organization maintains a closed, universal list of every counterfeit U.S. coin ever made. Millions of anonymous fakes have been produced, many struck from dies that have never been individually cataloged, so no finite list can claim to contain every physical counterfeit in existence. This page instead catalogs distinct counterfeit issues, alteration targets, and named counterfeit families that have been positively documented by authoritative sources — the U.S. Mint, U.S. Secret Service, Department of Justice, Smithsonian or another recognized museum, the American Numismatic Association, the American Numismatic Society, PCGS, NGC, or a major auction archive documenting a historical transaction. Dealer blogs, social-media posts, discussion boards, and unattributed price sites are not used as sources here.
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Terminology: counterfeit, altered, contemporary counterfeit, and COPY
These terms are often used loosely, but they describe meaningfully different objects:
- Counterfeit — a piece manufactured from scratch (cast, struck from fabricated dies, or otherwise fully fabricated) to imitate a genuine U.S. coin. It was never struck by the U.S. Mint.
- Altered — a genuine host coin that has been fraudulently changed, usually by modifying a date, adding or removing a mintmark, or simulating a valuable variety or doubling. The metal itself is genuine Mint product; the deception lies in what was done to it afterward.
- Contemporary counterfeit — a fake produced near the period when the genuine coin actually circulated, typically intended to be spent at face value rather than sold to a collector. Henning nickels and the Micro O Morgan dollars described below are contemporary counterfeits.
- Marked COPY — a replica openly and permanently stamped “COPY,” as federal law requires for imitation numismatic items sold to consumers. A coin honestly marked COPY is not automatically a numismatic forgery. It becomes a legal and ethical problem only if that marking is later removed, obscured, or the piece is sold as if it were genuine.
Understanding which category a given piece falls into matters for both legal exposure and market value — a genuine, unaltered coin with an honest COPY mark is a legal replica; a genuine coin with a fraudulently added mintmark is an altered coin regardless of what marks it does or doesn’t carry.
Named and historically attributable counterfeit families
| Counterfeit issue | Date and denomination shown | Maker | Period and purpose | Proven facts and useful identifiers | Verified sale information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henning Jefferson nickels | 1939, 1944, 1946, 1947 and 1953 five cents | Francis LeRoy Henning | Produced in New Jersey in the early 1950s for circulation at face value | PCGS identifies all five dates. The famous 1944 lacks the large wartime mintmark and has the wrong base-metal composition. Some dies show a loop or “hook” on the R of PLURIBUS, but not every Henning nickel has that marker. Henning discarded quantities in Cooper Creek and the Schuylkill River and received a three-year prison sentence. | No qualifying major-auction sale located. Collector-to-collector prices are not used here. |
| Micro O Morgan family | 1896-O, 1900-O and 1902-O dollars with Micro O | Unknown | Probably early 20th century; possibly as late as the 1940s; made to circulate while silver cost less than one dollar per coin | PCGS proved that the three dates share a reverse die and exhibit transfer-die characteristics. PCGS had mistakenly certified 95 examples before the 2005 determination and offered guarantee reimbursement. The 1899-O Micro O is genuine and must not be included in this family. | PCGS reported that low-grade examples traded around $500 before exposure. No individual transaction price is asserted here. |
| Omega High Relief double eagle | 1907 High Relief $20 | Unknown, called the “Omega Man” or Omega counterfeiter | Several decades old; collector deception | Correct-weight 90% gold counterfeits bear a tiny omega symbol within the eagle’s claw. NGC also notes surface pimples, bubbles and an incorrect texture. The maker was never identified or caught. | No verified public sale of a disclosed counterfeit located. |
| Omega three-dollar gold piece | 1882 $3 | Unknown Omega counterfeiter | Primarily associated with the 1970s; collector deception | NGC specifically identifies the 1882 counterfeit and the omega inside the loop of the R in LIBERTY. Other dates have been attributed to this maker in specialist writing, but they are not promoted to proven date-specific entries here without equivalent institutional documentation. | No verified public sale of a disclosed counterfeit located. |
| Omega Indian Head eagles | $10 pieces, including dates attributed in specialist literature | Unknown Omega counterfeiter | Collector deception | NGC confirms Omega-marked $10 counterfeits and says the omega is concealed in the R of LIBERTY. Exact date lists vary outside primary grading-service publications; this catalog does not present an uncorroborated date as settled fact. | No verified public sale located. |
Sources: PCGS, 1944-P Jefferson Nickel and the Henning operation · PCGS, Micro O determination · PCGS, genuine 1899-O Micro O clarification · NGC, Omega 1907 High Relief · NGC, 1882 $3 Omega counterfeit
Note that the “1907 High Relief $20” targeted by the Omega counterfeiter is the 11,250-piece business-strike High Relief Saint-Gaudens double eagle, a different coin from the ultra-rare MCMVII Ultra High Relief pattern piece.
NGC’s 50 most frequently submitted counterfeit U.S. targets
This is a documented occurrence list — the coins NGC’s authenticators encounter most often as counterfeit or altered submissions — not a rarity ranking. A row can represent multiple counterfeit dies and both complete fabrications and altered genuine coins. Unless noted otherwise, the maker is unknown and no verified public sale of the disclosed counterfeit was located. Where GetCoinHunt already has a dedicated buying guide for a listed coin, it’s linked below.
| Rank | Date and denomination represented | Proven form or pertinent fact | Maker | Counterfeit sale record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1909-S VDB Lincoln cent | Complete counterfeits; added S; added or false V.D.B. initials | Unknown | None verified |
| 2 | 1916-D Mercury dime | Complete counterfeits and added D mintmarks on genuine 1916 Philadelphia dimes | Unknown | None verified |
| 3 | 1914 Indian Head $2.50 | Correct-gold fakes known since the 1960s | Unknown; many believed made in the Middle East | None verified |
| 4 | 1914-D Lincoln cent | Complete fakes, added D mintmarks and dates altered commonly from 1944-D | Unknown | None verified |
| 5 | 1882 Indian Head $3 | Omega family with hidden Ω in R of LIBERTY | Omega counterfeiter, identity unknown | None verified |
| 6 | 1911 Indian Head $2.50 | Correct-weight gold counterfeits, many believed Middle Eastern and dating to the 1960s | Unknown | None verified |
| 7 | 1922 No D Lincoln cent | D removed or effaced from genuine 1922-D host coin; genuine No D coins have die-specific diagnostics | Unknown | None verified |
| 8 | 1915 Indian Head $5 | Complete gold counterfeits | Unknown | None verified |
| 9 | 1925-D Indian Head $2.50 | Complete gold counterfeits | Unknown | None verified |
| 10 | 1893-S Morgan dollar | Usually an added S on a genuine 1893 Philadelphia dollar; complete fakes also exist | Unknown | None verified |
| 11 | 1912 Indian Head $2.50 | Correct-weight/gold fakes widely seen since the 1970s | Unknown | None verified |
| 12 | 1915 Indian Head $2.50 | Correct-gold counterfeits known since the 1970s | Unknown | None verified |
| 13 | 1853 gold dollar | Complete counterfeits; common date targeted because buyers may scrutinize it less | Unknown | None verified |
| 14 | 1909 Indian Head $2.50 | Numerous older gold fakes, many associated with Middle Eastern manufacture in the 1970s | Unknown | None verified |
| 15 | 1855 Indian Head $3 | Correct-weight/gold counterfeits, likely made in the 1970s or 1980s | Unknown | None verified |
| 16 | 1913 Indian Head $5 | Complete gold counterfeits, many dating to the 1970s | Unknown | None verified |
| 17 | 1887 gold dollar | Hundreds of counterfeits seen by NGC over several decades | Unknown | None verified |
| 18 | 1862 gold dollar | Correct-weight gold fakes | Unknown | None verified |
| 19 | 1910 Indian Head $2.50 | Complete counterfeits, especially targeting Mint State value | Unknown | None verified |
| 20 | 1927 Indian Head $2.50 | Older complete fakes commonly encountered | Unknown | None verified |
| 21 | 1909-D Indian Head $5 | Correct-weight/gold counterfeits | Unknown | None verified |
| 22 | 1927 Saint-Gaudens $20 | Gold counterfeits; some likely made to evade pre-1974 U.S. restrictions on private gold ownership | Unknown | None verified |
| 23 | 1914-D Indian Head $2.50 | High-quality counterfeits aimed at collectors | Unknown | None verified |
| 24 | 1924 Saint-Gaudens $20 | Gold counterfeits, many linked to the gold-restriction era | Unknown | None verified |
| 25 | 1909 Indian Head $5 | Older gold counterfeits known since the 1960s and 1970s | Unknown | None verified |
| 26 | 1926 Saint-Gaudens $20 | Older gold counterfeits, likely 1960s–early 1970s | Unknown | None verified |
| 27 | 1857 Indian Head $3 | Correct-weight/gold counterfeits | Unknown | None verified |
| 28 | 1913 Indian Head $2.50 | Correct-weight/gold counterfeits known for decades | Unknown | None verified |
| 29 | 1928 Indian Head $2.50 | Numerous fakes traced generally to the 1970s market | Unknown | None verified |
| 30 | 1912 Indian Head $5 | Well-documented older counterfeit dies/families | Unknown | None verified |
| 31 | 1878 Indian Head $3 | Correct-weight/gold counterfeits | Unknown; Omega-marked examples are attributed to Omega | None verified |
| 32 | 1914 Indian Head $5 | Complete gold counterfeits | Unknown | None verified |
| 33 | 1911 Indian Head $5 | Complete gold counterfeits | Unknown | None verified |
| 34 | 1908 Indian Head $5 | Complete gold counterfeits | Unknown | None verified |
| 35 | 1909-S Indian Head cent | Added S on genuine 1909 Philadelphia cents; complete fakes also possible | Unknown | None verified |
| 36 | 1932 Indian Head $10 | Complete gold counterfeits, many likely tied to the former gold-ownership restrictions | Unknown | None verified |
| 37 | 1911-D Indian Head $2.50 | Both complete counterfeits and added D examples | Unknown | None verified |
| 38 | 1874 gold dollar | Correct-gold counterfeits | Unknown | None verified |
| 39 | 1915 Indian Head $10 | Gold counterfeits, many likely made during the 1960s–early 1970s | Unknown | None verified |
| 40 | 1868 gold dollar | Correct-weight counterfeits | Unknown | None verified |
| 41 | 1908 Indian Head $2.50 | Complete gold counterfeits | Unknown | None verified |
| 42 | 1908-D Indian Head $5 | Complete gold counterfeits | Unknown | None verified |
| 43 | 1889-CC Morgan dollar | Commonly an added CC on an 1889 Philadelphia dollar; complete counterfeits also exist | Unknown | None verified |
| 44 | 1904 Liberty Head $20 | Gold counterfeits associated with the pre-1974 gold-restriction period | Unknown | None verified |
| 45 | 1928 Saint-Gaudens $20 | Older gold counterfeits associated with the 1960s and 1970s | Unknown | None verified |
| 46 | 1883 gold dollar | Correct-gold counterfeits | Unknown | None verified |
| 47 | 1926 Indian Head $2.50 | Complete gold counterfeits | Unknown | None verified |
| 48 | 1912 Indian Head $10 | Gold counterfeits, many likely intended to bypass former ownership restrictions | Unknown | None verified |
| 49 | 1910 Indian Head $5 | Complete counterfeits, often with correct gold content | Unknown | None verified |
| 50 | 1929 Indian Head $2.50 | Complete gold counterfeits | Unknown | None verified |
Primary catalog source: NGC Top 50 Most Commonly Counterfeited U.S. Coins. The source contains a separate detail page for each ranked coin.
Additional positively documented counterfeit and altered U.S. issues
These issues fall outside the Top 50 or represent a specific, proven alteration form worth recording separately. Coins with an existing GetCoinHunt buying guide are linked.
| Date and denomination or claimed variety | Classification | What was proven | Maker | Verified counterfeit sale information | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1804 Draped Bust dollar | Altered date | NGC identified a submitted “1804” as an altered genuine 1802 BB-241 dollar. Tooling, smoothing and discoloration surround the false 4. This counterfeit targets the extreme rarity and value of the famous 1804 Class I and 1804 Class II dollars. | Unknown | None; submitter declared $300. This is not a sale price. | NGC |
| 1861-D gold dollar | Added mintmark | NGC examined a genuine 1861 Philadelphia host with an added D, an incorrect mintmark shape, a visible seam/verdigris and disturbed fields. | Unknown | None verified | NGC |
| 1873 Seated Liberty half dollar | Complete counterfeit | NGC documented an underweight 11.8-gram fake with a malformed date and weak details. | Unknown | None verified | NGC |
| 1874 three-cent nickel “die trial” | Spark-erosion counterfeit/fabrication | A copper piece promoted as a rare die trial was determined counterfeit; the manufacturing evidence was consistent with spark erosion. | Unknown | None verified | NGC |
| 1875 Indian Head cent | Complete counterfeit | NGC documented a group of Chinese-origin-style fakes; the 1875 had a malformed date, poor peripheral detail and raised artifacts. | Unknown | None verified | NGC |
| 1877 Indian Head cent | Complete counterfeit | NGC documented counterfeit examples of this key date, including diagnostics derived from incorrect design details and surfaces. | Unknown | None verified | NGC |
| 1877 Seated Liberty quarter | Complete counterfeit | NGC confirmed a fully fabricated example despite the date itself not being a major rarity. | Unknown | None verified | NGC |
| 1878-CC half dollar | Complete counterfeit | NGC documented incorrect, skinny date digits and a CC mintmark of the wrong style and excessive size. | Unknown | None verified | NGC |
| 1878-S and 1878-CC Trade dollars | Complete counterfeits | NGC published side-by-side analysis of submitted fake Trade dollars for both mints. | Unknown | None verified | NGC |
| 1894 Philadelphia Morgan dollar | Removed mintmark | NGC reports genuine 1894-O dollars altered by removing the O to imitate the scarcer no-mintmark Philadelphia issue. | Unknown | None verified | NGC |
| 1894-S Barber dime | Added mintmark and complete counterfeits | NGC confirms outright fakes and genuine 1894 Philadelphia dimes with an added S. | Unknown | None verified | NGC |
| 1895-O Barber dime | Complete counterfeit | NGC documented a fuzzy, porous fake with a malformed date, missing design portions and artificial toning. | Unknown | None verified | NGC |
| 1895-O Morgan dollar | Complete counterfeit | NGC’s general counterfeit-detection teaching material uses a confirmed counterfeit 1895-O Morgan dollar. | Unknown | None verified | NGC |
| 1901-S Barber quarter | Complete counterfeit/alteration target | NGC documents submitted deceptive examples of this major key date. | Unknown | None verified | NGC |
| 1903 Barber dime | Complete counterfeit | NGC confirmed a fake common-date dime, demonstrating that counterfeit lists cannot be limited to famous rarities. | Unknown | None verified | NGC |
| 1903-O Morgan dollar | Complete counterfeit | NGC documented a submitted counterfeit of a date whose market history changed dramatically after Treasury releases. | Unknown | None verified | NGC |
| 1912-S Lincoln cent | Complete counterfeit/false mintmark | NGC documented a fake with incorrect composition and mintmark. | Unknown | None verified | NGC cent research index |
| 1916 Standing Liberty quarter | Complete counterfeit | NGC authenticated a submitted piece as counterfeit and published comparative diagnostics. | Unknown | None verified | NGC |
| 1913-dated Walking Liberty half dollar fantasy | Altered date | NGC identified a genuine 1943 half dollar altered to read 1913, a date before the series existed. | Unknown | None verified | NGC |
| 1922 Grant half dollar with star | Added design element | A star was added to the reverse of a genuine plain Grant commemorative to imitate the scarcer With Star issue. | Unknown | None verified | NGC |
| 1932-D Washington quarter | Added mintmark and complete counterfeits | NGC identifies this as a regularly encountered added-mintmark target; thousands of 1932-D and 1932-S quarter fakes have been reported collectively. | Unknown | None verified | NGC added-mintmark article and NGC overview |
| 1932-S Washington quarter | Added mintmark and complete counterfeits | Repeatedly documented high-value alteration/counterfeit target. | Unknown | None verified | NGC overview |
| 1935 Connecticut commemorative half dollar | Complete counterfeit | NGC found porous surfaces, tool marks, raised metal and an incorrect copper-zinc-nickel composition. | Unknown | None verified | NGC |
| 1937 Texas commemorative half dollar | Complete counterfeit | NGC measured a fake as 58% copper, 30% zinc and 12% nickel rather than the required 90% silver/10% copper. | Unknown | None verified | NGC |
| 1937-D Three-Legged Buffalo nickel | Fraudulent alteration | The foreleg is mechanically removed from a normal 1937-D to imitate the genuine overpolished-die variety. | Unknown | None verified | NGC |
| 1942/41 Mercury dime, Philadelphia | Complete counterfeit or simulated overdate | NGC documented a counterfeit of the famous overdate. | Unknown | None verified | NGC |
| 1942/41-D Mercury dime | Counterfeit/alteration target | NGC identifies both Philadelphia and Denver overdates as regularly faked. | Unknown | None verified | NGC |
| 1943 bronze Lincoln cent | Complete fake, copper plating, or altered date | NGC calls it probably the most faked rare coin; deceptive forms include plated steel cents, altered 1945/1948 dates and fabricated pieces. A genuine bronze cent is not itself a forgery. See also the 1943-D bronze cent. | Unknown | None verified | NGC counterfeit-problem overview |
| 1943-S Walking Liberty half dollar | Complete counterfeit | NGC documented a fake included with other counterfeit Walking Liberty halves. | Unknown | None verified | NGC |
| 1955 Doubled Die Obverse Lincoln cent | Complete counterfeits and mechanically added doubling | NGC documented both a struck 100%-copper replica with the wrong reverse and a genuine host stamped or tooled to simulate doubling. | Unknown | None verified | NGC complete fake · NGC altered example |
| 1960 Franklin half dollar “cameo” | Altered surface/false cameo | NGC documented deceptive alteration intended to simulate a valuable cameo proof appearance. | Unknown | None verified | NGC |
| 1972 Doubled Die Obverse Lincoln cent FS-101 | Complete counterfeit | NGC documented a fake with weak blended legends, pockmarked surfaces and raised lumps. | Unknown | None verified | NGC |
| Modern counterfeit 1776 Continental Currency dollar | Cast counterfeit | NGC uses a confirmed cast fake to illustrate edge seams, grainy texture and non-struck manufacture. This is pre-federal coinage rather than a U.S. Mint coin and is included for historical completeness. | Unknown | None verified | NGC methods guide |
Counterfeit methods represented in the record
The proven record is broader than “fake metal.” NGC divides deceptive pieces into cast counterfeits, spark-erosion counterfeits, electrotypes, transfer-die counterfeits, altered dates, and altered mintmarks. Complete struck counterfeits may contain the correct precious-metal content and correct weight, especially older gold fakes — correct gold content does not by itself establish authenticity.
Transfer dies reproduce marks from the genuine model coin as recessed features on every counterfeit struck from the copied die. A repeated depression appearing in the same position on multiple alleged coins is powerful evidence of a counterfeit family — this is exactly how PCGS unmasked the Micro O Morgan dollars, by discovering that the supposed 1896-O, 1900-O and 1902-O varieties shared a single reverse die, an impossible production history for genuine New Orleans Mint issues struck across three different years. Cast coins often show a seam around the edge and granular surfaces, while altered coins can show disturbed metal, seams, glue, discoloration or tool marks around the changed feature. These are screening observations, not a substitute for authentication.
Circulation counterfeits and collector forgeries also serve different purposes. Henning nickels and the Micro O dollars were made primarily to function as money, with the maker profiting from the gap between production cost and face value. Collector-targeted counterfeits work differently: they exploit the gap between the modest bullion or host-coin value and the high numismatic value of a rarity, which explains why so many correct-weight gold counterfeits exist — the precious metal can be genuine while the purported Mint product is not. The U.S. Secret Service continues to suppress coin-counterfeiting operations; in January 2003 it announced the suppression of a counterfeit U.S. coin plant in Colombia.
General authentication best practices
Whether you’re checking a coin from this catalog or any other valuable U.S. issue, the same core diagnostics apply.
Weight and diameter
Every genuine U.S. coin series has published weight, diameter, composition, and edge specifications from the U.S. Mint, cross-referenced by PCGS CoinFacts and NGC. Weigh a suspect coin on a scale accurate to 0.01 gram and measure its diameter with calipers. A deviation — accounting for normal wear — is a red flag, though a correct reading alone does not prove authenticity, since well-made counterfeits, particularly older gold fakes, can match specification precisely.
Magnet and basic composition checks
A simple magnet test can catch some counterfeits outright: U.S. coins struck in copper, silver, gold, or the modern copper-nickel clad and manganese-brass alloys are not attracted to a magnet, while some cheap counterfeits are made from ferrous or improperly alloyed metals. A coin that’s attracted to a magnet, or that sounds or feels obviously wrong, warrants further scrutiny — but passing a magnet test does not certify authenticity, since correctly alloyed fakes exist.
Mintmark and date examination
Added or altered mintmarks are one of the most common alteration methods documented above. A genuine mintmark is raised and belongs to the die; a tool mark, seam, or area of disturbed, discolored metal around a mintmark suggests it was added after striking. Compare the mintmark’s shape, size, serif style, and position against reference photos from PCGS CoinFacts or NGC’s VarietyPlus and counterfeit-detection resources — genuine coins from a given date and mint are typically struck from a limited number of documented dies, so a mintmark in an unrecognized position, or of the wrong style, is a meaningful warning sign.
Edge, surface, and die-consistency checks
Cast counterfeits often show a seam running around the edge and a grainy, porous surface texture rather than the sharp, flow-lined surface of a genuinely struck coin. Transfer-die counterfeits can be identified when the same anomalous mark — a depression, a scratch, a die crack — appears in an identical position across multiple purported examples, since no two genuine dies produce identical accidental marks. Struck counterfeits can also show soft, mushy design details, incorrect letter spacing, or design elements that don’t match the genuine die variety for that date.
Professional certification
For any coin with meaningful value, third-party certification from a major grading service remains the most reliable protection:
- Confirm the holder is from a recognized grading service.
- Verify the certification number directly through the grading service’s official website — never rely on a number printed on a listing alone.
- Compare the holder’s reference photographs, when available, against the actual coin being offered.
- Remember that counterfeit holders and copied certification numbers also exist, so a holder alone is not proof; the online verification step matters.
Photographs alone are frequently insufficient to authenticate a high-value coin. If you cannot confidently evaluate a coin’s mintmark, date, edge, and surface diagnostics yourself, an independently certified example is the safer path.
Legal and collecting considerations
Federal law restricts making or trafficking in items made in the likeness or similitude of U.S. coins. The Department of Justice explains that 18 U.S.C. §489 prohibits making such tokens, discs, or devices without Treasury authority, and other counterfeiting and fraud provisions may apply depending on intent and conduct. This is educational information, not legal advice.
A known counterfeit may have historical study value, but ownership, importation, transfer, and sale raise legal and marketplace-policy questions. Do not remove a COPY mark, place a counterfeit in a fake grading-service holder, or offer a counterfeit as genuine. A grading-service rejection marked “Not Genuine” is evidence about that specific submitted object — it is not a license to market the piece deceptively. If a circulating coin is suspected counterfeit, U.S. Secret Service guidance is to contact local law enforcement or a financial institution rather than attempting to spend it. If a collectible was sold to you as genuine and you believe it is not, preserve the listing and all communications and notify the marketplace, payment provider, an independent authenticator, and appropriate authorities.
Find an authenticated example with GetCoinHunt
The safest way to avoid every issue documented on this page is to buy a coin that’s already been authenticated by a recognized grading service. GetCoinHunt searches inventory from multiple coin dealers in one place, so you can compare certified examples of the specific date and denomination you’re after — key dates, gold Indian Head and Saint-Gaudens issues, Morgan dollars with the added-mintmark dates above, or any other coin on this list.
- Search for the coin you’re after. Enter the exact date and denomination — for example, “1909-S VDB Lincoln penny” or “1916-D Mercury dime” — to search participating dealer inventory.
- Filter toward certified examples. Compare listings by grading service, certification number, grade, and asking price.
- Save it to your wishlist. If nothing currently listed meets your certification standard, add the coin to your wishlist with your grade and price preferences.
- Get notified about new matches. When new dealer inventory matching your wishlist appears, GetCoinHunt sends an alert so you can review it — and verify its certification — before it disappears.
GetCoinHunt does not guarantee that every listing is authentic, accurately graded, or fairly priced. Authentication, grading, pricing, return policies, and fulfillment remain the responsibility of the dealer or marketplace offering the coin. Always verify a certification number directly on the grading service’s website before buying.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my coin is a counterfeit?
Start with the basics: weigh it, measure its diameter, and compare both against the published specification for that date and denomination. Then examine the mintmark, date, and design details closely against reference photos from PCGS CoinFacts or NGC. Watch for disturbed metal, seams, or discoloration around a mintmark or date, mushy or blended design details, or a texture that doesn’t match a genuinely struck coin. None of these checks are conclusive on their own — for a coin of real value, professional authentication from a major grading service is the reliable next step.
What does a COPY marking mean, and is it illegal to own?
Federal law requires that many reproduction coins and medals sold to consumers be permanently marked “COPY.” A coin honestly marked this way is a legal replica, not a numismatic forgery, and owning one is not illegal. The legal and ethical problem arises if that marking is removed or obscured, or if the piece is sold or represented as a genuine, unmarked original.
Are counterfeit coins illegal to own?
It depends on the object and the conduct involved. Federal law (18 U.S.C. §489) restricts making or trafficking in items made in the likeness of U.S. coins without Treasury authorization, and other fraud statutes can apply depending on intent — attempting to pass a counterfeit as genuine currency or a genuine collectible is where legal exposure typically arises. This page is educational information, not legal advice; consult an attorney for guidance on a specific object or situation.
Does correct weight or gold content prove a coin is genuine?
No. Many of the older gold counterfeits documented above — particularly the Indian Head $2.50, $5, and $10 fakes believed to date from the 1960s and 1970s — were struck with correct weight and correct gold content specifically so that a simple weight check wouldn’t catch them. Weight and composition checks are useful screening tools, but they must be combined with mintmark, date, and die-diagnostic examination, and ideally professional certification.
What’s the difference between a counterfeit and an altered coin?
A counterfeit is fabricated from scratch — cast, struck from illegitimate dies, or otherwise manufactured outside the Mint. An altered coin started as a genuine Mint product that was later fraudulently changed, most often by adding or removing a mintmark, changing a date, or simulating a valuable doubled-die or error variety. Both are deceptive, but an altered coin’s base metal has genuine Mint origin while a counterfeit’s does not.
What should I do if I think I own a counterfeit or altered coin?
If it’s a circulating coin, U.S. Secret Service guidance is not to attempt to spend it — contact local law enforcement or a financial institution instead. If it’s a collectible you believe was sold to you as genuine, preserve the listing, receipts, and all communications, and notify the marketplace, payment provider, an independent authenticator or major grading service, and appropriate authorities. Do not resell it as genuine.
Is a grading service’s “Not Genuine” verdict the same as a legal counterfeit determination?
Not exactly. A “Not Genuine” designation from PCGS or NGC is that service’s expert opinion about the specific coin submitted to it — it’s strong evidence, but it’s a numismatic determination, not a criminal or legal finding. Regardless, a coin returned as Not Genuine should never be re-holdered deceptively, sold as genuine, or represented with its unfavorable determination hidden.
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