| By :
Mark Etinger
Coin collecting is a great hobby and a very enriching past time. After all, you not only learn about your country or other countries histories through the meaning and information behind a coin, but you are owning a piece of it as well. But you don't want to be duped into buying a coin that isn't real. There are tons of fraudulent coins out there that you want to avoid. One of the most common places fake collectible coins show up is on online auction sites or sites used to buy and trade. You may see something great on eBay or Craigslist, a deal that you just can't pass up, but it's very likely you should. You may see a coin that's set at a price of a few hundred dollars but the seller is boasting that the coin is worth several thousand. If you check the PCGS, you'll find that it is listed at the higher price. But the problem is, the grading may be very different from the one valued on the PCGS. The grading service may be different and they may over-grade a coin that is actually of lesser value. If it feels too good to be true, it probably is. It is especially hard to test for a fraudulent coin that you don't have in your hand If you do get your hands on a coin to test, it's good to take a look at three things; weight, diameter and thickness. Most fake coins can duplicate two, but not all three. So as long as all three match the stats of the real coin, then you know it is real. If one seems off, it is a fake. Testing specific gravity is another way to figure out if a collectible coin is fake. Each material has it's own specific gravity, though the hardest to test can be gold because tungsten has a very close specific gravity to gold and is often gold plated to look like the original gold coin. Make sure to really take your time when purchasing a coin, whether in person or online. Read all the material on a coin in an auction, because sometimes wording can give away a fake. If in person, run some tests. If the seller is legitimate, he or she is not going to mind. If they start to shy away or keep you from testing, you should be a little suspicious.
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