Coin collecters must always keep an eye out for counterfeit coins. Most coins for sale are genuine and sold at fair market value by honest dealers. That said, when a collecter does buy an altered or counterfeit coin the financial hit can be tremendus. Three basic types of fake coins exist: cast counterfeit, struck counterfeit and altered. Some fakes are of such high quality that even experts can be fooled occationally. Most of the time though a knowledgeable collector can weed out the suspicious looking coins.

Struck Counterfeit Coins

A struck counterfeit coins is often hard to detect. Struck counterfeit coins are made using the same process that the mint makes real coins with. Two dies, with the coin's design stamped into them, are placed in a press. Then a sheet of metal is placed between the dies. The dies are then squezed together to form the "coin."

A real coin is used as a model for a struck counterfeit coin's dies. Due the amount of time involved, counterfeiters take a lot of time to ensure accuracy. Most struck counterfeit coins contain die markers, or marks not normally found on a real coin. Struck counterfeits are not exact copies. It often takes a jeweler's loop and a great deal of knowledge to spot the differences between a real coin and a fake. For this reason coin collecters should know the die markers that are common to a real rare date coin.
 

Cast Counterfeit Coins

A cast counterfeit, an actually copy of a real coin, is made from a mold is made of both sides of a coin. Molten metal is poured into each half and then the halves are pressed together. This type of counterfeit coin was most often made to fool store clerks prior to the 20th century and were most often copies of silver coinage. Usually the metal used was not silver but a cheap base metal. Many times the dates were common.

Many times cast counterfeit coins are easy for an experienced collectors to spot. Cast copies will have a seam along the edge, as long as reeding was not added after the cast copy was made. If there is reeding, then inspect it closely for completeness and make sure that the reeds are even. Cast counterfeit coins often have a grainy look with lots of small pits in the fields around the design elements. The detail of the design elements will not be clear for the condition. When held in your hand, cast counterfeits have a different feel. Often they feel slimy or like they are coated with oil. The cheap metal used gets warm quickly and if dropped does not sound right.

Altered Counterfeit Coins

An altered counterfeit coin is made from a real common coin that has been altered to look like a valuable coin. This is the easiest way to make a fake coin. Many times tiny scratches will remain on the surface of the fake coin. The surface of the coin will not match the surface on different areas of the coin.

There are many examples of altered coins. 1937-D nickels sometimes have a leg removed to look like the famous 3-legged variety. This would change a coin that is worth a dollar or two into one that could sell for 0 or more. By knowing the diagnostics of the real 3-legged buffalo, you would know to look for the buffalo urinating.

Altering the date is another common way to cheat a collector. A famous example is the 1856 Flying Eagle penny. Only about 1000 real 1856 Flying Eagles were made as presentation pieces. They are extremely valuable. Some counterfeiters alter the 8 on an 1858 penny so that it looks like a 6. This only fools collectors that do not know what the real date looks like on the 1856. The shape and spacing of the real 56 cannot be duplicated with the 58. Anouther example of an altered date would be 1944-D pennies that have been changed to look like the 1914-D. Always check the date area carefully.

Mint-marks are sometimes added or removed to increase the value of a coin. Always look extremely close at the mint-mark area. Coins like the 1922-D penny can have the mint-mark removed easily. This can turn a coin into a 0 fake. Mint-marks are sometimes added to a coins surface. Many 1909-S VDB pennies are really nothing more than a 1909 VDB with the S added.

Most of the time a counterfeit coin can be detected with a good jeweler's loop and a basic knowledge of a particular coin's diagnostics. Beware of coins that have tiny marks that are not consistent with the rest of the coin. One of the best defenses against buying fake coins is a collectors instincts. If it does not feel right or the price is to good to be true, do not buy it.

Article by David Mahler

Like Gold Silver is Real Money Silver is true money. Most people don't think of it as that but it truly is. What most of the people consider real money has no innate value. In fact, toilet papers are more valuable than these items. It only has value because our government says it does and requires us to use it via legal tender laws.

The Federal Reserve Can't Print Silver The US Treasury can't do it anywhere near the rate that they can create new dollars although the Treasury does mint silver coins. Now that we live in a digital age the monetary supply can be grown with a computer entry instead of having to start up the printing press which allows the monetary supply to expand just that much faster.

The money you have in your savings bank looses value when the Federal Reserve creates more money. This occurs because when the monetary supply increases the amount of goods and services don't increase. When more dollars are chasing the same amount of goods and services then the price of those goods and services has to go up. This is why it is a good idea to acquire silver because the Federal Reserve can't create silver like it does paper money and so they can't devalue silver like they do the US Dollar.

Silver is Less expensive Than Gold I have read that gold is eight times more hard to find than silver contrary to what others say that silver is more scarce than gold. Either way the price ratio between silver and gold is about 60 to 1 right now. Put simply, the cost of 60 ounces of silver is equal to one ounce of gold. Some may conclude that silver is undervalued at the moment. Investing is more easier for the average Joe because of the lower nominal price.

You Have Something of Real Value Just in Case What I mean by this is if and when hyperinflation ever happens you will have a real store of value. This is not to scare you so you will not buy silver. However, that can occur at any time. I personally don't concur with his evaluation but internationally famous investor Marc Faber thinks it is a 100% certainty that the US will encounter hyperinflation.

Even if you don't believe hyperinflation will ever occur I suggest you consider getting silver bullion as a prudent addition to your portfolio. By far, the best price online is American Precious Metals Exchange.

More reasons to buy American Silver Eagle Coins

Morgan dollars that were minted from the years 1878 through 1904 (plus, later once again in 1921) just might be the most widely collected of all U.S. silver coins. Morgan dollars may even be more sought-after than the Peace dollar or Walking Liberty Half Dollar.

There are so many Morgan dollars available to collect, that Morgan appeals to a collector’s “hunt and gather” instinct. Morgan dollars are collected in a variety of ways. Most coin collectors who collect silver dollars like to collect Morgan dollars the traditional way: by obtaining one of each date and mintmark combination, which is not easy. Older collectors can remember that in the 1950s silver dollars were available at banks but too expensive to collect. A simpler approach that would be far less expensive would be to put together a collection that consists of the least expensive example of each of the different years of Morgan dollars. By doing this, you would have a complete year set without the focus on all the different mintmarks of Morgan Dollars.

What are the varieties of Morgan Dollars that are most popular? One coin collecting guide book lists five different varieties of the Philadelphia-minted 1878 and another five varieties of the 1880-CC, which is the Carson City mint that so many collectors love to own coins from.

In fact, a third way to collect Morgan dollars would be to focus on Morgan dollars from the Carson City Mint. This type of coin collection would be made up of only 13 different coins: the mint years 1878 -1885 and 1889-1893. The only downside of collecting Morgan Dollars this way is that four of the dates (1879-CC, 1889-CC, 1892-CC, 1893-CC) are expensive to own in all the grades. Even the “common” dates of Carson City Morgan dollars are relatively expensive because of high demand. The good news is that this collection would feature the 1878-CC, with a mintage of 2,212,000 (the second highest mintage of the 13 dates, following only the 1890-CC (2,309,041).

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They're small and unassuming, but dimes have been an important part of the U.S. money system since 1796. The Mercury-head and Roosevelt dimes are extremely popular with new collectors, while the older (pre-1916) series offer plenty of challenges for the advanced collector. Here are some tips for collecting U.S. dimes.

• Difficulty rating: Moderately difficult. A type set of dimes offers a wide range of interesting designs, each with its own story to tell. The Draped Bust type is scarce, but all the later types are readily available.

• Cost estimate: For a type set of dimes in Fine condition, expect to pay about ,000 (add ,000 more if you want the Draped Bust/plain eagle subtype). In Uncirculated condition, bring more money — at least ,000.

• Difficulty rating: Difficult to nearly impossible. The Draped Bust in every date is accessible but somewhat expensive. The Capped Bust has no difficult dates. The Seated Liberty has many common dates(dates in a series that have high mintages and that are easy to obtain), many rare dates, and the unique 1873-CC no arrows dime. The Barber type has the scarce 1895-O, and the 1894-S is a classic rarity that always sets records when it appears on the market. The Mercury head has the key date of 1916-D, but all other dates are easy to find. The Roosevelt head in all dates and mintmarks is common.

• Cost estimate: Inexpensive to millions. For Draped Bust dimes, figure on spending ,000 for a date set in Fine condition and at least 0,000 for a date set in Uncirculated condition — if you can find them. Capped Bust dimes cost ,000 for a set in Fine condition and roughly ,000 for an Uncirculated set. Seated Liberty dimes costs about ,000 for a Fine set, but only if you exclude the 1873-CC no arrows. For Barber dimes the 1894-S takes all the fun out of putting together a date and mintmark set. If you exclude the 1894-S, a Fine set runs around ,500; in Uncirculated condition, the price jumps to over ,000. For Mercury-head dimes, Fine sets cost around ,200; Uncirculated sets cost at least ,000 — and substantially more if you add any full-band examples. You can pick up a complete date and mintmark set of Uncirculated and proof examples of Roosevelt dimes for around 0. Buy yourself a nice set and stay away from the lower grades.

• Difficulty rating: Easy to nearly impossible. Each type has its highlights. In the Draped Bust series, you can find several variations on the number of stars and berries on some dates. The Capped Bust series features two overdates. Because of its extended run, the Seated Liberty type has lots of interesting varieties, many of which are quite rare. Look for the 1893/2 overdate in the Barber series. Favorites in the Mercury-head series include the 1942/1 and 1942/1-D overdates. In the Roosevelt dime series, the 1982 no mintmark dime is a perennial favorite.

• Cost estimate: All over the board. A 1945-S micro-S dime is just in Uncirculated condition, whereas a 1905-O micro-O can run as much as ,500. Collecting Draped Bust dimes gets expensive because most of the dates are already valuable as type coins.

For coin collectors seeking the Silver Buffalo Coin, getting a coin in excellent condition is of the utmost importance. A commemorative Silver Buffalo Coin was created in 2001 which consists of approximately 90 percent pure silver. The commemorative coin is a replica of the original Buffalo Nickel first created by James Earle Fraser and cast between 1913 and 1938. On the front of the Buffalo nickel appeared the profile of a Native American and on the back a standing buffalo is visible. The same design appears on the commemorative coins created in 2001.

The commemorative Silver Buffalo Coin is fully endorsed and backed by the United States Mint. It is possible for buyers come across counterfeits of 2001 Silver Buffalo Coin in the market. One will find on genuine coins that the backside of the coin is inscribed with the words "IN GOD WE TRUST," just beneath the words "United States of America." The latter text is arched above the buffalo on the back of the coin. Just beneath the buffalo’s head on the coin, the words "E Plubribus Unum," the Latin phrase meaning "Out of Many, One" appears. The latter words are indicative of genuine commemorative coins as such an inscription is not inscribed on replications.

On a genuine Silver Buffalo Coin, coin collectors can also easily spot the specific denomination just below the buffalo on the obverse side of the coin which should clearly read "One Dollar." Replications may display the words "giant buffalo proof" where the denomination amount appears on genuine coins. In addition, just below the denomination indicator on the obverse side of the coin, one will find the letter "P" which is an indicator of what mint cast the Silver Buffalo coin as well as the letter "F" which is indicative of the coin’s original designer. The uncirculated version of silver Buffalo coin is minted in Denver, CO, with a "D" Mint Mark inscribed on the coin instead. Another clear clue that the coin is genuine is the fact that on the front side of the coin on the lower left is the engraved year: "2001."

Careful examination of the Silver Buffalo Coin will give a coin collector a solid idea about what he or she is buying. It is easy to separate all of the replicas from the originals when one knows what to look for. Understanding the identifying markers will help the coin collector ensure he or she is getting a genuine coin in every instance. You can also subject it to the magnet test. A silver coin won't be attracted to the magnet, but a fake steel coin would.

For more tips of collecting Silver Buffalo Coin, I recommend you checking out Buffalo coin for Sale. It is a specialized Buffalo Gold Coin for Sale site, offering a great selection of American gold Buffalo coins, silver Buffalo and Buffalo Nickels for sale. This website makes finding your dream American Buffalo Coin a million times easier. Be sure to try this website before you buy.

Article by Michael Miller

What would you like to possess: a tangible investment which you can easily access or just a paper piece whose market value could evaporate in a moment? As a result of the recent economic downturn, many people interested in investing are interested in making investment in safe silver. It assists you in protecting your savings so that they have good value whenever you require cash by converting them.

Silver is available very easily to the interested investors in the shape of bullion, bars and different types of coins. Among all the options the dollars of silver which are dated before 1965 have emerged as most beneficial and secure.

Why should you make investments in Silver Dollars?

Dimes, quarters and dollar coins give different amounts of returns to the investors depending upon the wear and composition of the silver coins. Dimes and Quarters are exchanged quite often so there will be more wear than dollar or half dollar coins. This gets less from the quantity of pure silver they would get. For this reason people mostly opt for investment in silver coins.

Which of the dollar coins are good to invest?

Silver investors usually search for coins which were minted before 1965 as there are quite few which have high silver content. Of good worth to coin collectors and investors alike is Walking Liberty half dollar, 1964 Kennedy and Ben Franklin.

Why Would You Want Junk Silver?

When there is no value of coins for the collectors, they are referred to as "junk coins". While many of pre-1965 silver dollars are just junk coins to collectors, they are most eagerly sought by silver investors due to their large silver content.

You will get junk coins in the bags having face value at 00 and they are reliable and safe option for the investors desirous of securing their investments in case the dollar goes down.

People interested in making silver investments must first understand valuation of pre-1965 coins. When investments are made properly, silver can get you good financial gain apart from the total safety of investments.

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Check out this author's latest website retirement investing which assist others to learn more concerning spousal roth ira.

Article by Lorelei Lissor

The U.S. Mint's 1878-1921 Morgan dollar remains undoubtedly the most famous and collected classic silver dollar worldwide. How did this masterpiece of American minting emerge?

Interestingly, the coin sprang from a period of great financial instability in America, the Long Depression that began with the Panic of 1873 and continued until 1879, the year after the Morgan dollar's introduction. One cause of the financial catastrophe was the 1873 Coinage Act, called "the Crime of '73," which demonetized silver and temporarily ended the production of silver coins for the American economy. Combined with the failure of a major American railroad, "tight money" quickly led many overleveraged investors and companies into bankruptcy and Wall Street into chaos. When the Depression wore on and public outcries increased over joblessness, Congress finally authorized new circulating silver coinage, the largest of which was the magnificent Morgan silver dollar. As millions flowed into commerce in 1878, the Depression began to allay, partly the result of fresh hard-asset silver money in the system. Morgan dollars were packed with precious silver from the great Western mines, a vast source of national wealth. At the time, just one was the daily pay for cowboys, railroad builders and many industrial workers.

Designed by a Young Apprentice at the Philadelphia Mint

The Morgan is named after its creator, George T. Morgan. Born in England in 1845, Morgan trained at the London Mint and absorbed the finest European traditions of coin engraving. He was accepted as an apprentice at the principal Philadelphia Mint in 1877 and his superlative designs for a new U.S. silver dollar won out over the existing Chief Engraver's. The famous Philadelphia portrait painter Thomas Eakins (later to be regarded as the nation's finest artist of the period) recommended a 17-year-old schoolteacher named Anna Williams to be Morgan's model for his Liberty personification. His beautifully sculpted Liberty Head wears a tiara inscribed "LIBERTY" holding wheat of the North and cotton of the South (symbolizing the coming together of the nation after the Civil War) and a liberty cap (the traditional emblem of hard-won freedom).

For the American Eagle reverse, Morgan carefully worked from a stuffed eagle at the Philadelphia Mint and achieved superbly realistic detailing. His original design showed seven tail feathers, but the Mint Director requested another to fill out the look. However, upon the Morgan dollar's release into commerce, ornithologists objected that eagles always have center tail feathers, so Morgan reverted to his original odd-numbered tail design later in 1878. The eagle clutches arrows of preparedness and an olive branch of peaceful intent. Surrounding the eagle is a large laurel wreath, honoring the nation's greatness. The inscription "In God We Trust" (which began on U.S. coinage during the Civil War) is inscribed in Old English script.

The Ups and Downs of Morgan Dollar Mintages

As the production of the Western silver mines peaked in the 1880's, so did the output of Morgan silver dollars in that decade. When the principal silver mines were largely exhausted, the output of Morgans declined sharply in 1890-1892, then plummeted in 1893-1895 after Congress repealed the Sherman Silver Purchase Act. Popular agitation for greater silver minting (climaxing with Presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan's famous speech for silver at the 1896 Democratic Convention) led to increased Morgan dollar production in the late 1890's, early 1900's and through 1904, when the series was suspended by Congress. One final huge release of Morgan dollars came in 1921, before its successor the Peace silver dollar emerged later in that year.

In addition to being a lifeblood in commerce, many Morgan silver dollars were held in the U.S. Treasury as intrinsically valuable securities. However, the vast majority of those minted have been lost to history, when huge numbers were melted by the Treasury during the World Wars. Today their relative scarcity adds to their collecting appeal as a masterwork of the minting art.

About the Author

Lorelei Lissor is a Numismatist and coin expert at International Coins and Currency

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Article by Geoff Lilienfeld

The major difference between gold bullion coins and gold bullion bars is that the coins are minted in coin form. These can be extremely beautiful and the designs change depending on the nation that mints them. The variation in the design or stamping of the coins can make them more interesting to people who enjoy collecting them. Gold bullion bars on the other hand can be a more economical way of collecting gold because they can be purchased in smaller quantities.

The most popular gold coins are the one ounce coins. These can be expensive because while they are stamped as being a coin, they are actually valued by the weight and purity of the gold used to make them. A one ounce coin could actually be valued at 63 or higher depending on the spot price on the day you purchase it. One difference between gold bullion coins and bars is that bars can be purchased in 1 gram weights on up, while most gold bullion coins come in a 1 ounce weight. The gold bullion bars may be a better choice for the smaller investor who wants to build up their investment gradually. There is no arguing with the fact that the gold bullion coins are much more attractive.

Some of the favorite gold coins on the market today are the American Gold Eagle, the Canadian Maple Leaf and the South African Krugerrand. Of the three the American Eagle is the most popular coin on the market. This coin outsells all other coins and is the popular choice for many precious metal investors. The Canadian Maple Leaf is one of the only 24 carat coins and offers a good option for the investor in precious metals that want a higher quality. The South African Krugerrand is one of the least expensive gold coins because the cost of minting them is lower.

Whether you chose the coins or bars for your investment choice you will be making a wise investment choice. Adding precious metals to your investment portfolio is an excellent plan. Precious metals have something that most other investments just can't offer you and that is an intrinsic value. Historically when the economy is shaky precious metals have continued to increase in value.

About the Author

http://www.gold-bullion.org/gold-bullion-coins is one source of more in depth information about the benefits of adding gold bullion coins to your investment portfolio. They will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

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See: www.buyinggoldbullioncoins.com To Buy And Sell American Eagle Gold Bullion Coins.
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Coin collecting is one hobby that is both fun and challenging. To help those who are looking for those rare coins, here is a list of hard to find ones that are worth moving “heaven and earth” for.

Gold coins are something of a rare commodity. They were circulated only until 1933, which makes them expensive when they are auctioned. The nice thing about gold is that its value probably will never go down - making it a good investment.

Another rare coin sought by collectors is the Liberty Seated Dollar. These were last produced some time in the 19th century and are considered to be a rare find.

From 1875 to 1878, twenty cent coins were minted. This coin looks very much like a quarter and since its value is very low today, it is a coin worth looking for.

The Barber half dollars are rare coins that were minted from 1892 until 1915 and are collected by people depending on date or type. One of the challenges that occurs when searching for this coin is finding one in good condition.

The 1917 type One Standing Liberty Quarter is another coin worth owning. It was only minted for 2 years and shows the exposed breast of Ms. Liberty. This design created such an uproar that it had to be replaced and was only circulated for a year.

Mercury dimes were produced periodically during the 20th century. The market value of them is a piece.

The Walking Liberty Half Dollar is a beautiful coin for collectors. They were only circulated for 4 years and are considered to be one of the all time rare coins to ever exist.

The Texas Commemorative Half Dollar is another rare coin. Only 150,000 of these were minted over a 4 year period and just 60% to 80% of these are still available today making it one of the hardest coins to find today...

The most expensive coin is the Saint Gaudens. This was sold in an auction for nearly million. The design is truly superb and the value of it has never dropped even during the 1980-82 bear market.

Rare coins are truly a challenge for anyone who seeks to make this a mission in life. Not only are they hard to find but it they are expensive to acquire. Should a person have the funds available to purchase them then this adventure is truly something worth finishing.

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