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.

11. 1912 Indian $2.50

Counterfeit 1912 Indian $2.50
*Photos provided by the ANA Money Museum
Most Common Types of Counterfeits:
  • Outright counterfeit
Summary:

With a mintage of 616,000 pieces, the 1912 $2.50 Indian is another common date in the series. It is also a date which was extensively counterfeited in the 1970s. Many of these old fakes, which are usually of the correct weight and gold content, are still submitted to NGC for authentication and grading today.

Diagnostic Tips:
  • Check for tool marks in the recesses at the back of the Indian’s neck.
  • Heavy tool marks (which often appear as raised “spikes”) are often seen around the perimeter of counterfeits.
  • Look for unusually weak details.
  • Compare any depressions (marks) against known fakes.

Tool marks can be seen throughout “AMERICA” on the reverse of this counterfeit 1912 Indian $2.50.