The more valuable and rare a coin is, the more likely you are to come across a copy of it. Forgers copy both old coins and modern low-mintage silver issues. The good news is that most copies give themselves away before any expert examination. Here are seven checks worth doing before you buy.
1. Compare the weight
The simplest and most reliable test. The weight of every NBU coin is listed in the official specifications and in our catalogue. Jewellery scales accurate to 0.01 g are inexpensive. A deviation of a few hundredths of a gram is normal; a difference of a few tenths should raise a flag.
2. Measure the diameter and thickness
A caliper shows what the eye cannot. Fakes are often slightly thicker or thinner than the original: that is how a forger compensates for the weight of a cheaper metal.
3. Try a magnet
Silver, gold, copper and nickel silver are not magnetic. If a “silver” coin is attracted by a strong neodymium magnet, there is steel or iron inside. The reverse does not hold: a non-magnetic coin is not proof that it is genuine.
4. Examine the relief and the field
Use a 10× loupe. A genuine coin has crisp, even edges on letters and fine details. Signs of casting are blurry outlines, tiny pits (pores) in the field and a “soft” look to the relief. On proofs the mirror field must be flat, without waves.
5. Inspect the edge
Compare the edge with a photo of the original: reeding, lettering or grooves must match in count, spacing and depth. On fakes the edge is often uneven or shows a seam from the casting mould.
6. Check the set
Modern NBU coins are sold in capsules, and silver and gold ones often come with a certificate or souvenir packaging. Missing packaging does not mean a fake, but it is a reason to check the coin more carefully and to negotiate.
7. Think about the price and the seller
A rare coin sold far below the market almost always has an explanation, and usually not a pleasant one. Buy from trusted shops and collectors with a track record, ask for photos of both sides and the edge, and for expensive purchases agree on an independent examination.
In short
Weight, dimensions and a magnet weed out most crude copies in a minute. A loupe, the edge and the set help with better ones. And the best protection is buying from a seller who stands behind authenticity.
Every coin in the Coin Treasure catalogue is an original National Bank of Ukraine issue with official specifications. To keep a coin you bought in perfect condition, read “How to store coins”.
