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.

13. Year 3 (1914) Yüan Shih-Kai L&M-64 50 Cents

Counterfeit Year 3 (1914) Yuan Shih-Kai L&M-64 50 Cents
*Photos provided by the ANA Money Museum
Most Common Types of Counterfeits:
  • Transfer die counterfeit
  • Cast Counterfeit
Summary:

This is the half-dollar sized version of the 1914 Yuan Shih-Kai Dollar that features rather prominently on this list. Smaller 10 cent and 20 cent denominations were also struck.

Diagnostic Tips
Genuine examples are well-made, sharply struck and show excellent fine detail on the portrait that will even be preserved in the recesses on circulated examples. By contrast, counterfeits will often fail to show this fine detail.