1883 Hawaii Dollar
Counterfeit 
Genuine
How to verify authenticity: This particular counterfeit is from a Chinese eBay seller. It is of extremely high quality. You cannot always expect these issues to be of this quality, especially the ones from Singapore, but this is one to be on the lookout for. The main problem with this one is the dull, lifeless color that these coins often exhibit, because of the pot metal that is used in them. Also, the reeds on the edge are not exactly evenly spaced, which is another common property of the Chinese fakes.
Trade dollar Counterfeit
Genuine
How to verify the authenticity: The problems that you can see with this trade dollar, are numerous. It is truly not one of southeast Asia’s better products. The main problem that you notice with this particular piece is the exaggerated point of the nose, and coronet. Also, Lady Liberty appears to be much thinner on the counterfeit piece. And, much like the counterfeit 1883 Hawaii dollar, it suffers a lifeless appearance given by pot metal.
Draped Bust dollar Counterfeit
Genuine
How to verify authenticity: With the 1804 dollar being the second most valuable coin realized at auction, it’s only natural that some unscrupulous individual in the orient might attempt to cash in on the desirability of the coin. Most counterfeit draped bust dollars of all dates suffer this problem. Affectionately called the scowling Liberty dollars, they give liberty a pug nose, and a scrunched up face. The bust is significantly smaller than the genuine piece, and the rim is so weak as to be nearly non existent. As a note: NEVER buy a draped bust dollar unless you have clear photos, and can guarantee authenticity, or it is certified by a reputable company, as counterfeiting is rampant for all dates. Coronet eagles Counterfeit Authentic How to verify authenticity: Counterfeits in the Coronet series are quite common. They are generally circulating counterfeits which were of low quality, and have no gold content, and were intended to slip past the corner grocer. They are of so poor quality, that you would think that no collector would fall for them, but, it does happen. The biggest giveaway about this one is that the gold plating is coming off, revealing the tin underneath, and the fact that no Coronet Eagles were minted in 1800. Various Fantasy pieces {The format for these issues will be different than the others, as these are completely different}
1906 Ellis Island Dollar
These pieces are obviously not genuine United States Coinage. That, however, is far too often ignored, and these are often passed off as genuine Ellis Island dollars (which were produced in 1986) . They are almost always lightly struck, as evidenced in the above photos, and they contain no silver. No one really knows why these were produced, but they are almost definitely Asian in origin.
Various dates of fantasy silver eagles
This piece poses a puzzle again. These are cast, and contain white metal, and are in replication of a genuine silver eagle. They are easy to spot, Any silver eagle before 1986 is not genuine. I’ve seen these dated 1901, and 1906, but, allegedly, there are other dates too.
Counterfeit Dies
Not everyone out there is as ethical as you, the dear reader. Some of the better quality counterfeits are struck with dies. These dies are available from sellers in China for $200 for undamaged dies, with rusted dies selling for $50. For the study, the collection, and the education of others on this subject, I purchased one from a Chinese counterfeiter. He sent me the following photograph. You’ll notice that these are of excellent quality, and could easily pass for a genuine coin to the untrained eye. Authentication is essential for any coin valued above $50 in my professional opinion. Please take note of every details of these dies, as images rarely surface of them.
A few last words: My goal of this is not to scare you out of collecting. My goal here is to open your eyes about counterfeiting, and show you a select few types of counterfeits out there. It should only serve as a general guide. There are many more types of counterfeits out there. I would love to hear your thoughts on this,
