World Coins: Counterfeit India 1862 Gold Mohur

In December of 2013, I wrote an article on a counterfeit India 1888 Gold Mohur that was created using the transfer die method. Now we are seeing counterfeit India 1862 Gold Mohurs produced in China by this same method.

Much like the other high quality counterfeits coming from China, this piece is made with the correct gold content and weight. The transfer die method causes the contact marks from the host coin to repeat on the counterfeits produced from the counterfeit dies. The diagnostics of these pieces can be found by studying these repeating marks to determine if coins are counterfeit.

Counterfeit India 1862 Gold Mohur Obverse; Coin 1 and 2 Click image to enlarge.

Counterfeit India 1862 Gold Mohur Reverse; Coin 1 and 2 Click image to enlarge.

On the obverse of the counterfeit coins the repeating marks include two contact marks on Victoria’s face between the nose and mouth, a contact mark between the EE of QUEEN, a scratch from the tip of the nose down and a second scratch between the nose and R of VICTORIA. On the reverse, there are large repeating contact marks on the O of MOHUR, the I and D of INDIA and the 8 of 1862. There are also contact marks above the I of INDIA and below the 6 of 1862.

Counterfeit India 1862 Gold Mohur Diagnostics Circled in Red Click image to enlarge.

On one of these counterfeits the obverse was intentionally beat up a little over some areas of the repeaters to make them less noticeable. This is a tactic we are seeing as well as artificially wearing and toning the coins.

Since publication of the counterfeit India 1888 Gold Mohur article, I have heard from collectors and dealers who were able to avoid at least a dozen well made Chinese counterfeits that were being sold as authentic. One dealer at the NYINC avoided purchasing three counterfeits saving him thousands of dollars. I hope that this article will similarly help protect people from buying the counterfeit India 1862 Gold Mohurs.