If you’re beginning your journey as a coin collector, it’s important to understand some of the basics. Two of the most common questions are ‘what is a mint mark’ and ‘how are counterfeit coins altered’?
Mint marks are important because they are an indication of where the coin was minted. They are letters that are part of the coin’s design. They were devised by the U.S.government to hold the maker responsible for the quality of a coin.
These mint marks help you identify important coins, but can also present a challenge when someone has altered a mint mark to create a fake collectible.
Philadelphia was the only branch when the Mint first began operating, so coins made at that time had no mark. Even when other branches opened, Philadelphia continued to mint coins without a mark (with the exception of 1942-1945), while the other branches added marks. Beginning in 1979, Philadelphia added a “P” to all coins minted there.
One technique that a counterfeiter might use is to file off a mint mark, which would make it appear to be minted in Philadelphia prior to 1979.
In other cases, a counterfeiter will add a mint mark to a coin using an embossing process. This is where a hole is drilled along the edge of the coin and into the body, a tool is inserted inside the body of the coin, and the mint mark is then pressed up from inside the coin. The hole is filled and the counterfeiter files the edge to look like the surrounding reeding.
The new reeding often looks different than the rest of the coin, sometimes produces the wrong number of reeds, and can be spotted by inspecting the coin closely.
Embossed mint marks are also often slightly in the wrong place. You can check to see if the mint mark’s position is altered by comparing it to a photo of a known, authentic coin.
CV Coins & Collectables closely inspects coins for mint marks and signs of tampering in order to identify any altered coins. If you want to have your coins appraised, please contact us to schedule an in-person appointment today. We look forward to helping you with your collection!