As much as I prided myself in avoiding fakes for many years, it finally happened and I'm frustrated.

I hope this post is appropriate for this forum, but I just felt the need to vent for a bit. The damage done isn't that big, but just the idea, the principle...it makes me cringe.

I buy coins regularly and usually have an eye for fakes. 2 days ago, I was at a certain event revolving around antiquities of all sorts (including coins). The event is known for having many reputable sellers and I rarely spotted fakes in there (and when I would, they were properly labeled as "fake"/"copy"/"restrike"/whatever the case was.

While I got all my coins from a certain coin dealer I have known for a long time, I decided to stop by some other guy to see his merch. I decided to buy a silver coin worth around 25$...if genuine. I don't know how on earth I bought it, maybe because I was in a slight hurry, I don't know. What is astonishing for me is that the fake is actually really good. The was in a tight 2x2 and I took it out of it when I got home...only to realize that what should have been a lettered edge was a reeded edge. I hoped that it's a variety, but it turned out to be just a fake. The reverse and the obverse are, however, very close to the real thing. I very highly doubt it is even silver (does not sound at all like silver, testing it further is probably futile). I have no idea what metal it is made of but it even has toning that is quite similar to the toning on silver. It could be that the toning is artificial, but who knows.

BOTTOM LINE? What kind of person goes through the effort to create such a good fake (obverse + reverse) for a coin that is worth 25$ in a good day? Also, what kind of person sells such a coin when they have an entire table of things that are worth much, much more than this coin?

For the record, I returned to that place both later that day and the following day (it was a 2 day event). I couldn't see the seller anywhere which makes me think. I'm not as upset about the monetary aspect as I am about the fact that I could have maybe avoided it. Plus, I really wanted that specific coin...a genuine one I might add.

This is the first time I left home with a fake. It almost happened only once before in another context, but I realized in the very last moment and backed out of the deal. I think anyone who went through this can understand the frustration. I already wrote an entire wall of text, so I'll stop here.

Do you have the picture of the coin? If not, can you provide a link from the coin catalog as a reference?

I have a secret box of the fakes ive gotten for myself. more than one.
my face flushes when I look at them, I was so happy and then

Over the Years I have Collected Fake Coins as they are fascinating most I knew where Fakes or Reproductions and keep them Separate from my Genuine Coins mostly for Comparison Purposes as the Fakers excuse the Expression all ways get it wrong and with the real Item alongside to Study you can pick out the fault or if you are interested in a Coin a good photo of the real thing alongside the intended coin should do the same process I have been Caught out but very Rarely now the 1/2 Crown below is one that I didn't Spot as it came with a few Genuine 1/2 Crowns.

Fake 1942 Half Crown.

Yes, the feeling of being taken is terrible but I think almost everyone has been taken at one time or another no matter how sophisticated they fancy themselves to be in the hobby. Don't beat yourself up over it, at least it was not an expensive mistake. I too have a box of fakes, some obvious, some not so easily detectable, and some very, very good counterfeits.

Sounds fishy to me.

You buy a fake coin, because you were in a rush (To do what?), and then return the next day to find the seller gone.

Surely in God's name you would tell the management of this show (And there must be one, even if its a casual car boot sale, someone must be organising it).

Add to that no picture or even description of the fake coin in question.

Not buying it sorry.

Quote: "Moneytane"​Sounds fishy to me.
​
​You buy a fake coin, because you were in a rush (To do what?), and then return the next day to find the seller gone.
​
​Surely in God's name you would tell the management of this show (And there must be one, even if its a casual car boot sale, someone must be organising it).
​
​Add to that no picture or even description of the fake coin in question.
​
​Not buying it sorry.

​Im wondering what motive you think he has?