Genuine or Replica 5$ Gold indian head coi

[MintageSeller]

Hello All, 

 

Any experts can advise from photos alone. 

 

[SidS]

To err on the side of caution I'd say possibly fake. It could of course simply be the blurred pictures but the legends look all wrong and mushy to me - particularly the "FIVE"

These coins are faked quite extensively though.

[modofantasma]

Get to a charger quick 😬

[Mrpound]

Looks fake to me but @Leonmarsh is the authority on this in my opinion 👍

[Leonmarsh]

Fake no doubt 

Tooling marks legends not right 

[MintageSeller]

17 minutes ago, Leonmarsh said:

Fake no doubt 

Tooling marks legends not right 

I bought one on ebay, but seller is being a bit dodgy charged 25£ shipping but seems to have sent like 1st or second class and no shipping provided  won it in auction 

[Leonmarsh]

Hopefully you have got a real one mate 

Most hevaiky faked coin in the world these 

[James32]

Back doesn't look great at all,but neither do the photos 🤷‍♂️

Thankfully you will be covered for 30 days so my advice is get it checked ASAP and returned if no good. It may be infact gold but still a counterfeit, so a Jewelers may not be the best option to check,if no established coin/bullion dealer near you then I'd send to a forum member who has had experience in these coins.....Leon or suchlike??.

I'd rather be down postage costs and a buy him a pint than have a burning feeling in the back of my mind for the foreseeable. 

[Mrpound]

8 minutes ago, James32 said:

Back doesn't look great at all,but neither do the photos 🤷‍♂️

Thankfully you will be covered for 30 days so my advice is get it checked ASAP and returned if no good. It may be infact gold but still a counterfeit, so a Jewelers may not be the best option to check,if no established coin/bullion dealer near you then I'd send to a forum member who has had experience in these coins.....Leon or suchlike??.

I'd rather be down postage costs and a buy him a pint than have a burning feeling in the back of my mind for the foreseeable. 

Great advice!

[MintageSeller]

14 minutes ago, James32 said:

Back doesn't look great at all,but neither do the photos 🤷‍♂️

Thankfully you will be covered for 30 days so my advice is get it checked ASAP and returned if no good. It may be infact gold but still a counterfeit, so a Jewelers may not be the best option to check,if no established coin/bullion dealer near you then I'd send to a forum member who has had experience in these coins.....Leon or suchlike??.

I'd rather be down postage costs and a buy him a pint than have a burning feeling in the back of my mind for the foreseeable. 

This was my exact thought when purchasing it aha agreed if anyone fancies verifying it. Thats if it even comes. 

[Mrpound]

12 minutes ago, MintageSeller said:

This was my exact thought when purchasing it aha agreed if anyone fancies verifying it. Thats if it even comes. 

I have a sigma so I could tell you if it has the correct gold content but best option would fine a Jewlers that could gun it.

[Mrpound]

Oh and I also have a genuine one I could compare it too and take photos next too, but totally up to you mate 👍

[James32]

2 minutes ago, Mrpound said:

Oh and I also have a genuine one I could compare it too and take photos next too, but totally up to you mate 👍

@MintageSeller 👆 this is the perfect option,  testing is one thing but to have a known genuine on hand to compare is even better.

[MintageSeller]

25 minutes ago, Mrpound said:

I have a sigma so I could tell you if it has the correct gold content but best option would fine a Jewlers that could gun it.

Cheers, id appreciate that. @Mrpound testing my coin... Mintage you are not the father of a 1908 5$ gold coin you have been scammed. 🤣

[Leonmarsh]

More than likely be gold all fakes were, but only worth bullion value if not genuine 

[Mrpound]

1 minute ago, MintageSeller said:

Cheers, id appreciate that. @Mrpound testing my coin... Mintage you are not the father of a 1908 5$ gold coin you have been scammed. 🤣

It Doesn't look good to be honest 👎

[Leonmarsh]

This is the guy selling the coin been badly  cleaned too, not real 100% have you got pics of your you have bought 

[Leonmarsh]

Compared to a real one 

[SilverJacks]

There are some really convincing fakes out there -  https://youtu.be/UacWhc3w5U4?t=245

 

This youtuber, TheCoinGeek, also has excellent content for US coins - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Q66MLCNZAA

As stated by others, the coin we are referring to is a rather poor fake, but these vids still highlight just how tricky this coin can be.

 

[entsor]

For comparison, here is my genuine $5 Indian Head of the same year, which I purchased from @Leonmarsh

[MintageSeller]

1 hour ago, Leonmarsh said:

This is the guy selling the coin been badly  cleaned too, not real 100% have you got pics of your you have bought 

 

[MintageSeller]

[firestacker]

I raised a similar issue with a $5 indian head I received from a dealer. 

I ended up returning it and think that was the right decision looking at your second photo it has a similar issue. The reeded edge isn't right for starters.

[James32]

18 minutes ago, MintageSeller said:

What price did you end up paying?

[Britannia47]

Thought you might like another comparison photo taken from Mike Fuljenz's book 'Indian Gold Coins of the 20th Century'  Mike states .."Counterfeit gold coins imported from China are a growing concern to the numismatic community."

Anyway this is the first of the 1908 Half Eagles  from the Philadelphia Mint (not Denver)....

 

Edited April 18, 2022 by Britannia47