How to Spot Fake Coin: A Collector’s Survival Guide

Well detecting face coin it is very hard but when you check for elements you never fail. The market is flooded with convincing counterfeits—some so good they’ve fooled museums. After nearly getting burned on a “Byzantine solidus” last year (turned out to be a 1970s Italian cast), I compiled these hard-won detection methods used by top dealers.

The 5-Second Red Flags

(Quick checks before buying)

1. The “Too Perfect” Test

   • Ancient coins have slight irregularities. If Julius Caesar’s portrait looks like it was laser-engraved yesterday, be suspicious.

2. The Pocket Magnet

   • Carry a rare-earth magnet. When a seller palmed me a “gold aureus” that stuck to it, I knew it was tungsten.

3. The Thumbnail Test

   • Real silver develops a black oxidation layer (horn silver) that won’t scrape off easily. Fakes often use chemical washes that flake.

Advanced Detection Methods

The Loupe Checklist (10x Magnification)

• Genuine: Slight die cracks, flow lines from striking

• Fake: Microscopic pitting (from casting bubbles)

Pro Tip: Compare to the FORVM Fake Coin Reports database.

The Acetone Swab

• Dip a Q-tip in acetone (nail polish remover):
  ✅ Real patina: No change
  ❌ Fake: Green/brown color transfers

The Specific Gravity Test

• Weigh coin in air → weigh submerged in water → calculate density.

• A “silver” coin reading like lead? Problem.

The Hall of Shame: 3 Notorious Fakes

1. The “Tiberius Tribute Penny” Scam

   • Dozens appeared in 2020 with identical fake patina.

   • Giveaway: All weighed exactly 3.8g (real ones vary ±0.3g).

2. The “Persian Archer” Casts

   • Perfectly round edges (ancient coins were irregular).

   • Found: Sold at flea markets glued to “authentic” dirt.

3. The Electrum Lie

   • Fake Lydia coins made from brass + gold plating.

   • Caught: XRF showed 65% copper (real electrum is 55% gold).

Final Advice

• For coins over $500: Always demand an NGC Ancients or PCGS slab.

• Join the fight: Report fakes to the International Numismatic Fraud Database.

“Even after 30 years, I still get fooled sometimes. That’s why we share these stories—to protect each other.”
— Jonathan Kern, Numismatic Forgery Investigator

[🔗 Download our Free Fake Coin Field Guide]