Counterfeit Detection

To help collectors and dealers identify counterfeit coins, NGC has prepared lists of the most commonly counterfeited US, Chinese and world coins with diagnostic information and images from NGC’s extensive database, as well as commentary from the NGC coin grading team.

1. Russia 1897AT 15 Roubles

Counterfeit Russia 1897AT 15 Roubles
*Photos provided by the ANA Money Museum
Most Common Types of Counterfeits:
  • Transfer-die counterfeit
Summary:

Even with a mintage of nearly 12 million pieces, the 1897 15 Roubles carries a healthy numismatic premium. This premium has led to extensive counterfeiting of the series, as is the case with many U.S. gold pieces of the same era.

Diagnostic Tips:
  • As with all transfer die counterfeits, be on the lookout for repeating depressions, odd patches of tool marks, or tooling emerging from the denticles. Many also may have weak details.

Depressions that repeat in the same location on multiple coins are used to identify counterfeits.