Phoney Pound Coins
One in every fifty pound coins in circulation is counterfeit, according to the latest figures released by the Royal Mint.
The Mint carried out a similar study in 2003, which revealed the proportion of counterfeits to be about 1% back then.
Today's counterfeits, although much more common, lack the quality workmanship of earlier attempts. A counterfeit coin is likely to have indistinct lettering, the wrong typeface on the rim and blurred pictorial detail. As most counterfeits have a different composition to the genuine coin they will probably be rejected by vending machines.
The BBC News website published this handy photograph to help identify fakes:
It is an offence to produce or knowingly pass on a counterfeit coin.
The Mint carried out a similar study in 2003, which revealed the proportion of counterfeits to be about 1% back then.
Today's counterfeits, although much more common, lack the quality workmanship of earlier attempts. A counterfeit coin is likely to have indistinct lettering, the wrong typeface on the rim and blurred pictorial detail. As most counterfeits have a different composition to the genuine coin they will probably be rejected by vending machines.
The BBC News website published this handy photograph to help identify fakes:
It is an offence to produce or knowingly pass on a counterfeit coin.
2 comments:
Hi Tom,
Have you ever gotten or seen on of these phony coins in person?
Sami
Hi Sami. Long time no speak.
I don't recall ever seeing a counterfeit coin, but I never really pay too much attention.
Since I wrote this article I am checking the patterns on both sides are aligned!
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