The question you have to ask is, did the dealer fall for it and pass it off as real to you? The dealer I went to always tested metal and looped it. But I have also seen stories where graded coins were found to be counterfeit. So perhaps billion is the way as you get weight for almost spot, a coin for collecting will include the risk of high markup for intrinsic value. Coin and metal could be fake.

Then again, c_q, as the testing methods for counterfeit coins become more precise, the counterfeits themselves are getting ever more sophisticated. It’s turned into one of those back and forth “contests”; every time one side ups the ante the other side goes right to work to at least even if not outright own the playing field again, all with no apparent end in sight.

but the last thing the grading outfits need to be doing is listing what is wrong with a coin – they don’t know if the person who submitted it is just ‘testing’ them to see what criteria they look at, either in the book or not in the book, to potentially help them out.

also keep in mind that methods for detecting counterfeits are more advanced now than in the past – could be an ‘old’ successful counterfeit winds up getting caught by a newer test process.

Depending on what kind of a man he really was, he may either be clipping coupons in a modest west coast Florida retirement village or sipping twenty dollar pina coladas on the white sand beach of a five star Costa Rican luxury resort.

It’s good to know there is such a resource out there, one which however I don’t see myself referring to as “me precious” Silver is at my price limit.

Excellent advice, Antonio, which everyone in the market for gold should hearken to. Another aspect to keep in mind is to remember that if a deal looks too good to be true it most likely isn’t. Buyer beware.

I have no doubt about your integrity, Antonio, and it’s too bad that it had to be a gold coin of all things that may have turned out to not be the real thing.
As far as coins being slabbed to prove and protect their authenticity, that was more of a guarantee before the Chinese got into the business of counterfeiting not just coins but the sealed holders they come in.

My point is, be very cautious when purchasing gold coins from a dealer. Take due diligence and thoroughly review the coin before buying it.

That doesn’t really make any sense because there is a guide book to detect counterfeit gold coins available to the public.

But I didn’t counterfeit this coin and the other three I submitted with it were graded and slabbed.