How can you be sure if coins are real?

Hello, 

I have recently started collecting coins, mainly because I've watched too many documentaries over the summer. This lead me to buying quite a lot of coins from auticions, but I was wondering how do I know if they're authentic and not reproductions? 

There isn't a simple answer to your question.

Weight, diameter, provenance, comparison, and price can help, but for some coins, it may be impossible to determine. Even NGC has graded fake coins in the past.

Each coin requires examination.

Visit a coin show, coin museums, or coin dealers, and look at coins. Look at lots of coins. Take a loupe and look at details. The more you look at the better you will be.

Inexpensive coins are rarely faked. Moderate value coins have some fakes. Expensive coins have more fakes. You need more experience to be a good buyer of expensive coins.

If a coin type has some valuable years and some less valuable years then you can compare a common year with a rare year. There will be differences between years (more for older coins) but look at the quality of the design, the appearance of the portraits, the details of the design (even the consistency of the ridges or denticles). Compare rare years with photos of genuine coins, and look closely around the date – sometimes dates of common years are altered to look like the date of a rare year. 

You can also use a magnet to recognize some fakes. For instance, genuine silver coins are not magnetic, while some of their forgeries are. 

The trick is when you're a new collector, start with just cheap everyday coins. Accept lower grades. Don't jump in at the deep end. These coins are typically genuine as making forgeries just isn't worth the effort.

Read up on your “basic” coins, learn what it common techniques, look at the finer details. All that kind of thing. You'll figure out what looks “right” and when something looks “off” even if only subconsciously.

Then, if you're still interested, start doing this with uncommon-rare mid priced coins, and work your way up to a level you're happy with.

If you jump straight in with ultra-rare mega-precious coins without knowing exactly what you're looking for, you'll soon end up getting burnt.

Doesn't matter on your speciality. If going ancient, start with common bronze coins, then work your way up to silver/gold or rarer bronze as your budget allows.

If going for a modern era, get the everyday circulation grade.

And most importantly, never be afraid to ask for opinions or help. There's a lot of knowledge out there (and even some on here 😉) to help genuine collectors avoid being scammed.