Back to: Precious Metals Mastery & Dealership
In the world of bullion, fakes are becoming more sophisticated, but they almost always fail at the “micro-detail” level. Because gold and silver are incredibly dense, counterfeiters must choose between making a coin the correct size but wrong weight, or the correct weight but wrong size.
As an Empire Associate, your eyes are your first line of defense. Here is the breakdown of the visual “tells” that separate the real from the fraudulent.
1. The Krugerrand: Specific Red Flags
The Krugerrand is 22k gold (91.67% gold, 8.33% copper), giving it a signature reddish-orange hue. Fakes are often plated with 24k gold, making them look “too yellow” or “too shiny.”
- The “Reeding” (Edge Ridges): * Genuine: A standard 1oz bullion Krugerrand has exactly 160 reeds. (Proof versions have 220). The ridges should be sharp, distinct, and uniform.
- Fake: Reeding is often “mushy,” unevenly spaced, or has visible seams from a two-part mold.
- The “Springbok” Detail:
- Genuine: Look at the springbok antelope’s body. The texture of the fur and the definition in the muscle should be sharp. The “grass” at the feet must be crisp.
- Fake: Often looks “soapy” or flat, as if the details have melted together.
- The Date and Lettering:
- Genuine: The South African Mint uses a specific, blocky font. The “9”s in the date have very specific curves.
- Fake: Counterfeiters often use standard computer fonts that are slightly “thinner” or have different spacing (kerning) between letters.
2. Silver Coins: The “Silver Eagle” Checklist
The American Silver Eagle is the most counterfeited silver coin. Since silver is less dense than gold, fakes are often made of silver-plated copper or Chinese “German Silver” (nickel-copper-zinc).
- The “Year 1906” Blunder: Many fakes from overseas are dated before the coin was ever invented.
- Fact: The American Silver Eagle was first minted in 1986. Any date before 1986 is an instant fake.
- The “U” in ‘United States’:
- Genuine: On the reverse side, the “U” in “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” has a specific shape—it does not have a “tail” or serif on the right side of the letter.
- Fake: Many counterfeit dies use a “U” with a small serif or tail on the bottom right.
- The Walking Liberty’s Dress:
- Genuine: The sun’s rays in the background should be sharp and stop exactly at the lines of Liberty’s dress. Her thumb should be distinct.
- Fake: The rays often “bleed” into the dress, and the hand looks like a “mitten” rather than a hand with a thumb.
3. Counterfeit “Hallmarks” and Stamps
Don’t trust a stamp just because it’s there. Counterfeiters stamp “999” on brass all the time.
| Hallmark Feature | Genuine Appearance | Counterfeit Warning Sign |
| Strike Method | Deep, “Struck” indentation. | “Cast” look (rounded edges inside the numbers). |
| Clarity | Micro-lines visible under a 10x loupe. | Blurry, “pitting” or small holes inside the stamp. |
| “COPY” Mark | Legally required on replicas. | Often hidden under the rim or intentionally filed off. |
| Weight Stamp | Matches actual scale weight to 0.01g. | Significant deviation (e.g., a “1oz” coin weighing 28g). |
The “Empire” Rule of Thumb
“If the coin feels ‘slippery’ or ‘soapy’ to the touch, or if the lettering looks like it was made of plastic, it is likely a cast fake.”
To be a top-tier Empire Associate, you cannot rely on “feel” alone. Precision measurement is your most consistent defense against “Dimension Fakes”—coins that look right but use less dense metals.
If a coin’s weight is correct but its diameter or thickness is off, you are likely looking at a copper or lead-core counterfeit. Use a digital caliper and a precision scale (0.01g accuracy) to verify these specs.
The Empire Global “Big Five” Spec Sheet
| Coin | Metal | Weight (g) | Diameter (mm) | Thickness (mm) |
| Krugerrand (1oz) | 22k Gold | 33.93 | 32.77 | 2.84 |
| Gold Eagle (1oz) | 22k Gold | 33.93 | 32.70 | 2.87 |
| Maple Leaf (1oz) | 24k Gold | 31.10 | 30.00 | 2.80 |
| Silver Eagle (1oz) | .999 Silver | 31.10 | 40.60 | 2.98 |
| Silver Britannia | .999 Silver | 31.10 | 38.61 | 3.00 |
How to Use This Data in 3 Steps
Step 1: The Weight Check
Place the coin on your scale. A genuine 1oz gold Krugerrand should weigh 33.93g. Why not 31.1g? Because the 31.1g is the fine gold content; the extra 2.83g is the copper alloy. If it weighs 31.1g total, it’s a fake.
Step 2: The Diameter Check
Use your calipers to measure the width. Counterfeiters often make coins wider to compensate for using lighter metals like copper. Even a 0.5mm difference is a massive red flag.
Step 3: The Thickness Check
If the diameter and weight are correct, check the thickness. This is where most “Tungsten” fakes fail. Tungsten is very close to the density of gold, but not exact. To get the weight right, the fake often has to be noticeably thicker.
The “Fisch” Tester Alternative
If you don’t want to carry calipers, many pro dealers use a Fisch Tester. It is a simple plastic template for a specific coin. If the coin fits through the slot (thickness) and into the circle (diameter) while also balancing on the weighted arm, it is physically authentic.