Counterfeit coins

[pennymastermind]

I have been going through change I have racked up over the years lately and have found many cool additions however I've found many fakes.
One was a dime in such a pristine condition from 1977 I checked it with a magnet and was fake. I have just found this penny and it looks almost too good to be true it looks as if it just came out of a mint proof set. I would like some tips to figure out if it's real I no longer have shops I trust around here to take a look and suggestions?

[willbrooks]

It is doubtful anyone would counterfeit a 1944 cent, since there were so many of them made. You are most likely simply seeing a nice red uncirculated wheat cent here. Hard to come by in change, but not rare for wheat cents from the 40s and 50s. The numbers struck went way up in these years. As for general diagnostics, a wheat cent should weigh 3.11g. As for finding design flaws, this takes years of study. The last digit or 2 of the date were engraved on the master die in these years, so that the master hub could be re-used in subsequent years. There were many "flaws" with the engraving. 1944 is one of those years where the engraving on the 4s was pretty atrocious. Knowing what is normal for a given year just takes study. Your 1944 looks normal from here, but the pics are a bit far away.

[pennymastermind]

101218101218

[pennymastermind]

I have compared it to my other 1944 but something with the Lincoln head itself seems off almost bigger compared to the other ones

[mrmike916]

Most of the fakes we see are rare dates or the 43 copper and 44 steel. This is a thread that's goes over some of these coins.

http://www.lincolncentforum.com/forum/showthread.php?33541-Counterfeit-resource-thread

[Jim_in_Juanita]

You can buy a copy/duplicate 1944-d cent here.... (or just about any us minted coin)
http://www.aliexpress.com/item-img/FREE-SHIPPING-wholesale-1944-D-Lincoln-Penny-Coins-Copy-95-coper-manufacturing/1760837565.html

But your cent is nicer than the copy/duplicate for sale above and has a date font that compares well to a genuine 1944-d cent. The reverse of your coin does not have know counterfeit die issues with left wheat found on some older Chinese counterfeits. Consider wearing cloth gloves or handling the 1944-d only on the edges to avoid adding fingerprints to the nice uncirculated coin finish.

[cranky]

You can buy a copy/duplicate 1944-d cent here.... (or just about any us minted coin)
http://www.aliexpress.com/item-img/FREE-SHIPPING-wholesale-1944-D-Lincoln-Penny-Coins-Copy-95-coper-manufacturing/1760837565.html

But your cent is nicer than the copy/duplicate for sale above and has a date font that compares well to a genuine 1944-d cent. The reverse of your coin does not have know counterfeit die issues with left wheat found on some older Chinese counterfeits. Consider wearing cloth gloves or handling the 1944-d only on the edges to avoid adding fingerprints to the nice uncirculated coin finish.

Yes it's ridiculous to even buy a common Wheat or anything any more . But on the bright side at least PCGS has some new counterfeit proof holders.
http://www.pcgs.com/News/pcgs-and-dupont-authentication-combat-counterfeiting

[GrumpyEd]

One was a dime in such a pristine condition from 1977 I checked it with a magnet and was fake.

That could also be a real dime that was plated, the plating can make them magnetic and look very shiny.

[uglycent]

If I find odd shaped letters and dates, I usually examine the rims, Counterfeits are usually rough and not smooth like genuine cent.