Since the number of fake coins far surpasses the number of authentic coins, amateur coin collectors can be more easily fooled by fake coins than veteran collectors. If you accidentally purchase a fake coin, just consider it a necessary learning experience, a caution for the future, and a motivation to broaden your coin collecting knowledge. Receive another opinion from a person you know is trustworthy.

A ruler burned Alexandria's ancient library to the ground under the belief that there were scrolls hidden there that contained information on how to create counterfeit gold and silver coins that were indistinguishable from the real thing. He provided a radical solution, but it aimed at safeguarding the empire's currency, which, without being trsuted, could create the ruin of trade relations.

You will find that there a certain dead giveaways concerning fake coins. Often, counterfeit coins are cast instead of pressed; therefore, fake coins, if they fall or hit against another coin, sound differently when compared to the sound real coins make. Color also gives away fake coins; fool's gold isn't just an expression, but also a tidbit of truth. At a glance some may view a brass piece that has been highly polished as gold.

Another good indicator of the authenticity of a coin is how much it weighs. The various alloys used in making coins have different densities which has an impact on its weight. Fake coins are often made with softer metals. One way a person used to determine whether a coin was real or fake was to bite the coin. All these discriminators, weight, density, color, sound, make for so many different things to watch out for, that you need to understand that this expertise is only built over many years of experience.

Some ground rules/common sense will be able to help you. If you are interested in buying rare and valuable coins, do not try to buy them by yourself. It might be prudent to do some checking up on the dealer, perhaps a background check. Request an authenticity certificate. Deal only with established reputed businesses.