It is evident which is real and which is fake. In most cases, you should be able to make out what the country is, although it will usually be in the language of the country that issued the old coin. Unfortunately, although 210,000 of these coins were originally issued, there’s a large number of fakes out there in circulation. In this case, you might have a token, round, or pattern, all of which resemble coins. The composition of coins today are made from a variety of metals such as zinc, bronze and nickel. Ask Question. Spanish coins minted since the early 17th century are among the oldest to have dates, but many old coins minted since then have been circulated enough to … Is your old coin made of silver or gold? Look for obvious signs of forgery. What country is the old coin from? Plus, many coin dealers will try to buy your old coins from you at very low prices. Silver Coin Calculator-This calculator will quickly give you the silver value of your coins. • Easiest way to sell old Coins/Bills! If still in doubt, you can also test the coin with a magnet. At the bottom of this page is a side-by-side comparison of a real and fake pine tree shilling. Note the image on the reverse (tails) side of the coin as well as the obverse (heads). If it sticks, it’s fake because real silver is non-magnetic. Don't be afraid to check eBay links if they come up in a search for your old coin. There are a few means and ways of … The machines are equipped with electromagnetic sensors that sense the type of metal the coin is made of. I primarily collect and study U.S. coins produced during the 20th century. If testing for bullion coins, strike two coins together. Use a neodymium magnet. Coins Red Book. The real deal So you can not just throw in any metal shaped like a quarter and fool … D.G.R.I. Susan is an avid coin collector of over 30 years, and has written 150 articles for The Spruce. Around the rim is stamped "BURG CO TVR 1780 X ARCHID AUST DUX" This article has been viewed 100,723 times. But with a few simple tools, one can easily tell the difference. A favorite practice of counterfeit coin sellers is to … You can separate old look-alike tumblers from the reproductions by the dates on the coins. You may also like. Be sure to check beyond the first page of search results. If you are dealing with … But the truth is, counterfeiting is just about as old as the concept of money itself. Does the coin look brand-new or is it so worn that it is barely identifiable? Genuine 8 escudos weigh 27.07 grams. Many people are curious to know why in the old days it was common to bite gold coins – or other kinds of items made of gold – to confirm whether or not they were real. If the ice on the suspect coin melts much slower than the ice on the silver coin, you’ll know you have a fake on your hands. Color is not an absolute determiner of the metal a coin is made of. Although coin collecting has not been around as long, it is nonetheless a popular hobby for those interested in history and owning something potentially valuable. How to Identify Real Gold Coins. Be aware that some rare old coins have been counterfeited by doctoring less rare coins to resemble them. Try posting photos of your old coin in forums, or emailing it to coin dealers. Genuine silver coins have that distinctive ring of silver that sounds like a bell. % of people told us that this article helped them. This video shows you how to test silver to tell if it is fake or real: If you are about to purchase or invest in silver, make sure you know how to distinguish the real ones, the silver plated ones, and the totally fake ones. Look for a date. This most basic of tests is surprisingly effective: Simply drop a (non-numismatic) silver coin that you know to be real on a table and listen for the distinctive “ping” sound — this is very difficult to fake. Don't Fall for Stories and Always Get a Guarantee. They were minted from 1883 until 1912. Get DIY project ideas and easy-to-follow crafts to help you spruce up your space. Get your cash offer in as little as 15 minutes. 3. How Do I Buy Coins Directly from the U.S. Mint? This practical and crude method was used for the authentication of gold since this metal is very malleable. This small test can indicate whether you are holding the real deal or a decent copy. Really, none of them. The RBI Issue Offices/sub-offices are located at … 1885 may sound old but they were stored in the treasury and issued up until the mid 1960's. Sometimes the same mint mark represented different locations at different times, such as "P" representing Popayan (Colombia), Lima (Peru), or La Plata (Argentina). You may also like. These can sometimes be helpful in identifying an old coin once you develop enough of an interest in coin collecting to pay attention to coin designers. Spanish colonial-era coins marked with a capital "M" and small "o" were minted in Mexico, while a "G" represented "Guatemala" and a "CUZ" represented "Cuzco" (Peru). Measure the thickness with a caliper. Send a photo of your coin. If the coin is even slightly attracted to the magnet, then you know you have a fake on your hand, as metals with contents of iron and steel are the most likely to be attracted. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/e5\/Identify-Old-Coins-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Identify-Old-Coins-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/e5\/Identify-Old-Coins-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid2723468-v4-728px-Identify-Old-Coins-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"