A novice collector who collects coins has to deal with the problem of determining the authenticity of this or that specimen that he has at his disposal. It takes a certain amount of experience, numismatic knowledge and a set of professional tools to be sure to distinguish a real coin from a counterfeit one.
Necessary
- - catalogs of coins;
- - magnifying glass;
- - spectrometer;
- - electronic balance.
Instructions
Step 1
Some signs of counterfeiting can be detected visually. Examine the coin through a magnifying glass, paying attention to the clarity of the details of the image on both sides. Coins made by minting usually have clear outlines and fine details. Counterfeit coins are usually made by casting, which does not allow the smallest features of the original to be conveyed.
Step 2
Pay attention to the traces of metal lamination characteristic of genuine antique coins. This natural corrosion effect is almost impossible to simulate with counterfeit coins. Lack of lamination on old coins may indicate that you are dealing with a fake.
Step 3
Use the weight characteristics of the coin to determine authenticity. Weigh the specimen on a precision electronic balance. Compare the obtained value with the reference weight of the tested coin taken from the catalog. Many numismatic editions include tables that indicate the standard weight of the most common collectible coins. The discrepancy between the parameters is one of the signs of forgery.
Step 4
If specialized coin catalogs are available, compare your copy to a photograph of the original coin. Some catalogs contain not only high-quality images, but also a detailed description of each coin included in the catalog. The most famous and authoritative of the domestic catalogs is “The Corpus of Russian Coins of the Grand Duke Georgy Mikhailovich”.
Step 5
If you are serious about doing numismatics, get a spectrometer. Such a device allows you to determine the content of metals and impurities in a coin. The spectrometer quickly recognizes whether the metal under study contains modern additives, which is a clear sign of a fake.
Step 6
If the equipment is not available to you, ask for help in determining the authenticity of coins in a specialized company that has a certificate for evaluating numismatic samples. After expert evaluation, you will receive an opinion on the authenticity of the coin with attached photographs and spectral analysis data.
