Minting coins has been the cornerstone of every developed economy since physical currency became the primary method of financial transactions. Ancient cultures made coins from precious metals, such as silver and gold, to fuel commerce and store wealth.

However, coin counterfeiters have erupted since, taking advantage of counterfeiting to make millions by passing off less valuable copies as real coins. Hence, you can save a lot of hassle and money by knowing if the gold coin is genuine. Furthermore, if you want to apply for a gold loan, you must know if your gold coin is natural or counterfeit.

Gold’s unique properties make accurate fakes challenging to produce, and you can check if your gold is authentic at home with a few simple tests.

How to Spot Fake Gold Coins?

1. Know the Source

Choosing a dealer or broker registered to buy and sell gold coins and who has a solid reputation in the community is the most efficient way to avoid the risk of acquiring counterfeit gold coins. Even though many registered dealers adhere to the rules and do not create counterfeit coins, there is a slim chance of being a victim of scams.

Check the seller’s online reviews and the recommendations of your friends, relatives, and colleagues before purchasing gold coins from them.

1. Avoid Unrealistic Offers

Beware of “too good to be true” offers. Dealers who try to push gold coins on you or discount gold for no logical reason are a major red flag. It is also suspicious if a dealer offers gold coins below the market value.

1. Perform a Magnet Test

Gold is a precious metal not susceptible to magnetic forces. Thus coins containing a high concentration of gold will not react during a magnet test. This test is an easy way to detect counterfeit gold coins since they often have inexpensive metals that are magnetised.

However, in some cases, a magnet test might not work if you are testing a false coin manufactured from a non-magnetic alloy.

1. Detect Gold by Its Colour

You must examine the whole coin to determine the purity of gold. Imitation metals become discoloured when they start to erode.

Gold does not corrode nearly as fast as other metals when exposed to moisture. A false metal might be present beneath the gold décor if there are specks of black or green on your coin.

The appearance of these spots is usually due to a low-quality imitation metal’s mismatched disguise that exposes tiny, microscopic pieces of the base metal. However, it takes time for corrosion to manifest itself as discolouration.

1. Measure and Weight Gold Coins

Inconsistencies in size and weight are more common in counterfeit coins. Furthermore, each modern gold coin adheres to strict standards and regulations governing its dimensions and weight. In most cases, the differences between each gold coin are too minute to distinguish without professional equipment. Thus, it is easy to tell the differences between individual coins through precise measuring equipment.

1. Study the Mint Markings

It is essential to identify the mint markings when buying gold bars. These markings include the following.

• “Mark” or logo of the Mint
• A purity indicator
• Weight indication
• Serial number

The coin may be a fake if one or more of these elements are missing or don’t look right.

1. Ping Test

Ping tests are among the oldest methods for detecting counterfeit gold coins. Striking a gold coin against a hard surface or another gold coin produces a sharp ringing sound. Compared to regular, non-precious metals, gold coins have a longer-lasting ping. When striking counterfeit coins against a hard surface, they produce a dull sound, and their ringing is shorter.

Apply for a Gold Loan with IIFL Finance

IIFL Finance offers quick gold loans for small financial requirements. Visit IIFL Finance online or at your nearest branch to check the gold loan rates.

You can complete all aspects of the application and disbursement process online. Depending on the purity of the gold, disbursals can take as little as a few hours.

Get your gold loan today with IIFL Finance!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Do 20k gold coins stick to magnets?

Ans. Real gold coins of 20k will not stick to a magnet as gold is not magnetic.

Q2. Should you invest in gold coins

Ans. Gold is a physical asset that holds its value over time, proving it is an excellent investment.