Quality looks very good. I still can't understand how these aren't illegal. They don't show the obverse so I'm guessing it has "replica" stamped on it somewhere. Free Shipping Wholesale 2015 Year of the Goat Perth Australian Mint 1 oz 999 Fine Silver Plated Copy Coins Discount Price: US $195.80 / lot (100 pieces / lot , US $1.96 / piece) http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free...ian-Mint-1-oz-999-Fine-Silver/2040660263.html
Regarding the quality, the images are not any indication of the quality you will receive. It's quite common on Alibaba/AliExpress for manufacturers to take photographs of other manufacturers' products to show what they "can" do and then deliver something inferior. There are a lot of counterfeits on that site (eg: http://www.aliexpress.com/item/1-2-...EN-COIN-ELIZABETH-II-NEW-COIN/1818165118.html ($100 AUD for less than $3 USD, bargain!) so I wouldn't be too surprised if the obverse was the same as the original. It is odd that no one seems to be taking any action against them, despite them counterfeiting currency.
Found a thread on last year's Lunar horse: http://forums.silverstackers.com/topic-46608-fake-2014-lunar-horses-on-alibaba-aliexpress.html Same thing.
Product images in an Alibaba listing only mean that the seller knows how to download pictures from the internet and re-post them. They'll always have at least one real product on hand anyway, because that's what they use as a reference to make the copies. Also, whatever you do DON'T BUY THESE. Importing them is a criminal offense and the Federal Police take it seriously. As in seriously seriously.
I worry about the flood of replicas and their impact on gold and silver as SHTF currency. In a post-collapse situation I cannot see many people having access to XRF technology. Currency needs to have confidence to be widely used. Anyone else thought about this issue?
... and I believe they are now trading on the stock exchange...it was THE news(for the media) the other day....
that is a really good point. this kind of stuff is stressing....dont even mention all those silver and gold clad bullion things on ebay and gumtree and other sites...makes me sick...
Imagine the following scenario: its after an economic collapse, and people are attempting to resume trading activities. Maybe the government brings out a new currency AKA the rentenmark in Weimar Germany. For gold and silver to be serious competing currencies, buyers and sellers must have full confidence that they are receiving honest weights and measures. These counterfeits could really undermine confidence in precious metals. As an aside, I am fond of predecimal currency because I tell myself they are unlikely to be counterfeited. Maybe I am deluding myself.
Bring them into your friendly local bullion dealer who will exchange them for the money of the day, the day you're going to spend said money
Counterfeit predecimal coins: http://www.drakesterling.com/coins-for-sale/news-wire/news-wire/counterfeit-pre-decimal-coins
I got a fake 1oz Lunar horse a while ago, everything perfect except for the legal tender denomination was missing so wouldn't be surprised if that was the case with these too.
Some more. The seller even shows them being made. If its not illegal in China then I guess we can't blame these guys if they end up over here. With these antique coins, as the manufacturing process improves, how long before it will be impossible to tell the difference? 1931 Australia Florin Two Shillings, $2.20 http://www.aliexpress.com/item/1931-Australia-Florin-Two-Shillings/597598430.html
Oh dear, I am getting depressed now with all those forgeries. Looks like its back to baked bean stacking...
