Fake British Coins

[Guest Dave01]

Hey, I'm looking to make a collection of fake British coins. (Coins that are used today i.e. pound coin, two pound coin, fifty pence piece). Currently, I've went through about 40 one pound coins that I have and managed to find one fake. I was wanting to know if there's fake coins made for lower values (1p,10p,20p etc) I didn't think there would be as they would be of such little value but I'm not sure? Also, please do tell about your fake coin collections and since I'm looking to kickstart my collection...if anyone would be willing to sell theirs to me, I'd be happy to pay a good price.

Also any other information on fakes would be much appreciated.

Kind Regards,

Dave

Edited March 24, 2008 by Dave01

[Chris Perkins]

I've got about 160 fake coins in my collection, ranging from hammered Scottish fakes right through the early milled period, lots of George III and some fake gold/silver Victorian and later (including fakes made of good gold) right up to about half a dozen modern fake £1 coins. And I've got some Irish, Spanish and 1 German 19th century fakes.

Have you seen this, I worte this ages ago:

http://www.predecimal.com/british_coin_forgeries.php

Unfortunately none of them are for sale! I've heard about £2 fakes but never seen one. I've also come across the large 50p types as forgeries but none of the modern smaller ones.

[Atif]

I've got about 160 fake coins in my collection, ranging from hammered Scottish fakes right through the early milled period, lots of George III and some fake gold/silver Victorian and later (including fakes made of good gold) right up to about half a dozen modern fake £1 coins. And I've got some Irish, Spanish and 1 German 19th century fakes.

Have you seen this, I worte this ages ago:

<a href="http://www.predecimal.com/british_coin_forgeries.php" target="_blank">http://www.predecimal.com/british_coin_forgeries.php</a>

Unfortunately none of them are for sale! I've heard about £2 fakes but never seen one. I've also come across the large 50p types as forgeries but none of the modern smaller ones.

Ive come across a few fake pound coins during my time but never took them into consideration, if I find any more I will ket you know. Also any complete GB Whitman Folders, Please let me know.

[scottishmoney]

I have mostly fakes of Scottish hammereds, for some reason they are not uncommon with AE coins during the 16th and 17th centuries, but only one fake Pound coin, curiously with the Scottish reverse, but the English legend, Decus et Tecumen.

[TomGoodheart]

I've about 10 fake £1s ranging from the atrocious (lead, with a bit of gold paint) to the very good (more recent) cast coins. I usually find one a week, they aren't that uncommon. Hardly surprising given the numbers produced: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7144549.stm My favourites are those with the wrong reverse or legend. I've not seen other denominations.

[Guest larsselleth]

Hey, I'm looking to make a collection of fake British coins. (Coins that are used today i.e. pound coin, two pound coin, fifty pence piece). Currently, I've went through about 40 one pound coins that I have and managed to find one fake. I was wanting to know if there's fake coins made for lower values (1p,10p,20p etc) I didn't think there would be as they would be of such little value but I'm not sure? Also, please do tell about your fake coin collections and since I'm looking to kickstart my collection...if anyone would be willing to sell theirs to me, I'd be happy to pay a good price.

Also any other information on fakes would be much appreciated.

Kind Regards,

Dave

I think I have a fake penny....see picture below. One is the real penny (Left) and the other of the same year is a terrible copy. It seems pointless to forge pennies.

http://s45.photobucket.com/albums/f94/larsselleth/?action=view&current=coins001.jpg

Edited June 14, 2011 by larsselleth

[Peter]

What makes you think it is a forgery?....probably 2 dies have been used with slightly different wear.

[scott]

i have a couple of fake 20p

[Colin G.]

What makes you think it is a forgery?....probably 2 dies have been used with slightly different wear.

I had to look for a while, but there appear to be no border teeth, but that still does not necessarily mean fake

[just.me]

The penny on the right is the new shield reverse type, which does not have border beads on either side, thats why they look different.

[TomGoodheart]

Unfortunately none of them are for sale! I've heard about £2 fakes but never seen one. I've also come across the large 50p types as forgeries but none of the modern smaller ones.

Light and the wrong colour.

[Peckris]

Hey, I'm looking to make a collection of fake British coins. (Coins that are used today i.e. pound coin, two pound coin, fifty pence piece). Currently, I've went through about 40 one pound coins that I have and managed to find one fake. I was wanting to know if there's fake coins made for lower values (1p,10p,20p etc) I didn't think there would be as they would be of such little value but I'm not sure? Also, please do tell about your fake coin collections and since I'm looking to kickstart my collection...if anyone would be willing to sell theirs to me, I'd be happy to pay a good price.

Also any other information on fakes would be much appreciated.

Kind Regards,

Dave

I think I have a fake penny....see picture below. One is the real penny (Left) and the other of the same year is a terrible copy. It seems pointless to forge pennies.

http://s45.photobucket.com/albums/f94/larsselleth/?action=view&current=coins001.jpg

The one on the right is missing all teeth and stops, which is really weird. However, I don't think it can be a forgery - as you say, who'd want to spend more on the exercise than the "coin" is worth? What it MIGHT be (and hold your horses right here, I only said MIGHT) is some kind of pattern, released accidentally? Unlikely, but I'm struggling to find a possible explanation (my first thought was a penny struck on the wrong blank, but that wouldn't eliminate teeth and stops).

[just.me]

Hey, I'm looking to make a collection of fake British coins. (Coins that are used today i.e. pound coin, two pound coin, fifty pence piece). Currently, I've went through about 40 one pound coins that I have and managed to find one fake. I was wanting to know if there's fake coins made for lower values (1p,10p,20p etc) I didn't think there would be as they would be of such little value but I'm not sure? Also, please do tell about your fake coin collections and since I'm looking to kickstart my collection...if anyone would be willing to sell theirs to me, I'd be happy to pay a good price.

Also any other information on fakes would be much appreciated.

Kind Regards,

Dave

I think I have a fake penny....see picture below. One is the real penny (Left) and the other of the same year is a terrible copy. It seems pointless to forge pennies.

http://s45.photobucket.com/albums/f94/larsselleth/?action=view&current=coins001.jpg

The one on the right is missing all teeth and stops, which is really weird. However, I don't think it can be a forgery - as you say, who'd want to spend more on the exercise than the "coin" is worth? What it MIGHT be (and hold your horses right here, I only said MIGHT) is some kind of pattern, released accidentally? Unlikely, but I'm struggling to find a possible explanation (my first thought was a penny struck on the wrong blank, but that wouldn't eliminate teeth and stops).

Peck, have a look at the obverse of a 2008 shield reverse Penny or a 2009, 10. Compare the obverse to a 1998>2008 Penny obverse, the difference will be very clear and I'd put a big wager on that that is the 2 obverses in the photo.

[TomGoodheart]

Of course, if it's a new obverse muled with the old (portcullis) style reverse, that would be interesting.

But I've yet to see one of those ... Apparently 180,600,000 of the old style were issued together with 507,952,000 new 'shield' style coins in 2008. Most likely you have one of each larsselleth.

[Peckris]

Hey, I'm looking to make a collection of fake British coins. (Coins that are used today i.e. pound coin, two pound coin, fifty pence piece). Currently, I've went through about 40 one pound coins that I have and managed to find one fake. I was wanting to know if there's fake coins made for lower values (1p,10p,20p etc) I didn't think there would be as they would be of such little value but I'm not sure? Also, please do tell about your fake coin collections and since I'm looking to kickstart my collection...if anyone would be willing to sell theirs to me, I'd be happy to pay a good price.

Also any other information on fakes would be much appreciated.

Kind Regards,

Dave

I think I have a fake penny....see picture below. One is the real penny (Left) and the other of the same year is a terrible copy. It seems pointless to forge pennies.

http://s45.photobucket.com/albums/f94/larsselleth/?action=view&current=coins001.jpg

The one on the right is missing all teeth and stops, which is really weird. However, I don't think it can be a forgery - as you say, who'd want to spend more on the exercise than the "coin" is worth? What it MIGHT be (and hold your horses right here, I only said MIGHT) is some kind of pattern, released accidentally? Unlikely, but I'm struggling to find a possible explanation (my first thought was a penny struck on the wrong blank, but that wouldn't eliminate teeth and stops).

Peck, have a look at the obverse of a 2008 shield reverse Penny or a 2009, 10. Compare the obverse to a 1998>2008 Penny obverse, the difference will be very clear and I'd put a big wager on that that is the 2 obverses in the photo.

I hadn't even noticed that (modern decimals don't interest me one bit!) - I don't have one to look at, but Wikipedia confirms the ring of dots has indeed been removed.

[1949threepence]

Hey, I'm looking to make a collection of fake British coins. (Coins that are used today i.e. pound coin, two pound coin, fifty pence piece). Currently, I've went through about 40 one pound coins that I have and managed to find one fake. I was wanting to know if there's fake coins made for lower values (1p,10p,20p etc) I didn't think there would be as they would be of such little value but I'm not sure? Also, please do tell about your fake coin collections and since I'm looking to kickstart my collection...if anyone would be willing to sell theirs to me, I'd be happy to pay a good price.

Also any other information on fakes would be much appreciated.

Kind Regards,

Dave

There are a plethora of fake £1 coins. You'll have no difficulty locating them in your change if you keep a sharp lookout.

I can't imagine many fakes of lower denomination values as it would hardly be worth the effort, their value is so low. Although as stated earlier, there are some pre 1997 fake 50p's about.

Haven't yet spotted a fake £2 coin. No doubt the bi metallic is difficult to fake.

[Nutsaboutcoins]

Hey, I'm looking to make a collection of fake British coins. (Coins that are used today i.e. pound coin, two pound coin, fifty pence piece). Currently, I've went through about 40 one pound coins that I have and managed to find one fake. I was wanting to know if there's fake coins made for lower values (1p,10p,20p etc) I didn't think there would be as they would be of such little value but I'm not sure? Also, please do tell about your fake coin collections and since I'm looking to kickstart my collection...if anyone would be willing to sell theirs to me, I'd be happy to pay a good price.

Also any other information on fakes would be much appreciated.

Kind Regards,

Dave

There are a plethora of fake £1 coins. You'll have no difficulty locating them in your change if you keep a sharp lookout.

I can't imagine many fakes of lower denomination values as it would hardly be worth the effort, their value is so low. Although as stated earlier, there are some pre 1997 fake 50p's about.

Haven't yet spotted a fake £2 coin. No doubt the bi metallic is difficult to fake.

Not if the mint is stupid enough to scrap them by popping the middle out, then transporting the 2 parts together for melting down.

http://www.thelocal.de/national/20110331-34083.html

[just.me]

I am also collector of forgeries and have 7 different fake £2 coins they are made fom a lead type metal similar to the old one pound forferies and are coloured. here is a scan of a 1998 and a 1999 rugby forgery

[just.me]

The decimal forgeries I have managed to get are :

£2 coins 1998 x2 1999 normal and rugby, 2001, 2002, 2003

£1 coins, 164 various strikes etc, all reverses except Millenium bridge and the new shield design.

50p 1969, 1973, 1981 and 1997 small.

20p 1982, 83, 88, 89, 93 and 1994.

I have also seen but do not have a 2p coin, which I was told were made lighter because seemingly drug dealers use a 2p as a weight for measuring the weight of a certain drug and the forgeries were made so they can use their scales with the light 2p and issue underweight bags to the smackhead users.??

[1949threepence]

The decimal forgeries I have managed to get are :

£2 coins 1998 x2 1999 normal and rugby, 2001, 2002, 2003

£1 coins, 164 various strikes etc, all reverses except Millenium bridge and the new shield design.

50p 1969, 1973, 1981 and 1997 small.

20p 1982, 83, 88, 89, 93 and 1994.

I have also seen but do not have a 2p coin, which I was told were made lighter because seemingly drug dealers use a 2p as a weight for measuring the weight of a certain drug and the forgeries were made so they can use their scales with the light 2p and issue underweight bags to the smackhead users.??

Very interesting post. Thanks for the info.

[Godot]

I found a couple more fake quids in my change over the last fortnight.

Counterfeit 2001 £1 coin obverse + reverse / edges

Counterfeit 2003 £1 coin obverse + reverse / edges

(Click 'action' pulldown for full resolution pics on all the above)

[josie]

Just posting.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b011f4nn/sign/Fake_Britain_Series_2_Episode_1/

[just.me]

Here is my latest £1 coin forgery, a mule with the new shield reverse, muled with a 1998 Jersey obverse

[just.me]

[Coinery]

Always happy to send you modern counterfeits I stumble across! Didn't know that's what you were doing! Far more interesting than collecting decimal coinage I'd say!