Trying to spot fakes...

Hi all,

I’m new to collecting, haven’t spent much on it so far (typically just picking up coins via cheap bulk lots on eBay) but I’m growing increasingly concerned about forgeries and how to spot them. From reading the guide and various forum posts I’ve learnt a bit but it seems quite an art!

I wondered if anyone could cast their eye over these eBay lots I’ve seen recently?



https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/133379951080
This one seems to feature a few Chinese mace & candareens and a remarkably good Tibetan srang.
Did someone get a £19 bargain, or a nice set of fakes?



https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/353047322866
This one appears to contain a nearly 500 year old Austrian coin and a Real?! These must be counterfeit, right?



https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/143584028448
I watched this lot with a view to bidding as there were some interesting coins but it got too pricey for me. I spied the silver florin and shilling, and a cartwheel, but I was mostly taken by the Falklands 50p and the Royal Wedding 10 dollars. What are the chances of these fairly rare coins just turning up in a bulk eBay lot though? On closer inspection, I grew a bit suspicious about the thin burr/lip on the rim of these.

Would love to know some expert opinions on these...

1. No idea
2. Easily a fake; too shiny
3. Looks genuine

1. Fake, miss the point for "4.4"

Citeer: "ZacUK"​1. No idea
​2. Easily a fake; too shiny
​3. Looks genuine

​
Thanks!

Shame about 3 then. I doubt I’ll see those turn up in a random bulk lot again.

Citeer: "Frenchlover"​1. Fake, miss the point for "4.4"

​Thanks. So obvious now you’ve pointed it out! The other one visible in that lot was also missing the point.

I realise that it is rare and valuable coins that will be faked nowadays (in China?) to dupe collectors, but does anyone know what are the most counterfeited everyday coins that exist? The ones created to pass off when the coins were still legal tender.

In the UK you would often come across quite blatant fake £1 coins in your change. (So much so we obviously now have the new coin.) They were usually easy to spot but that’s probably down to familiarity with the real thing.

Any country’s coins particularly prone to fakery? Amongst a sack of world coins, what might be the most expected fake to find?