Cast vs Die-Struck Counterfeit Coins

Cast Counterfeits

Made by pouring molten metal into a mold from a genuine coin. Most common type.

Seam line — Thin raised line around the edge where mold halves met. #1 diagnostic.
Porous surface — Tiny pits and bubbles visible under 10x magnification.
Mushy details — Letters and design elements appear soft and rounded.
Wrong weight — Often wrong alloy (too heavy or too light).
Dull ring — Thud instead of clear ring when dropped on hard surface.
No cartwheel luster — Missing the flow lines that create rotating light pattern.

Made using custom dies and a press. More dangerous — can replicate details accurately.

Transfer die markers — Same bag marks on multiple coins = same counterfeit die.
Wrong die characteristics — Subtle differences in letter shapes and star points.
Wrong edge reeding — Incorrect count, spacing, or depth.
"Too perfect" — Lacking natural variation seen in genuine Mint products.

A 10x loupe reveals: flow lines (present on genuine, absent on casts), surface texture differences, edge details, and letter diagnostics.