AI detects fake coins better than human numismatic experts, claim researchers

By James Risdon

An advanced artificially intelligent counterfeit coin detection software is proving to be more accurate than numismatic experts, claims one of the researchers who developed it.

“Some of those experts missed the counterfeits because they were so precise,” said artificial intelligence researcher Dr. Saeed Khazaee, CEO of NexaDeeds and a member of Concordia University’s Centre for Pattern Recognition and Machine Intelligence (CENPARMI).

“They look with their eyes … but a human being is not as good as AI.”

Khazaee, along with Concordia University artificial intelligence researcher Dr. Maryam Sharifi Rad and CENPARMI co-director Dr. Ching Yee Suen, claims their latest AI software system can detect counterfeit coins with 99 per cent accuracy.

The team published an article describing their work, A Framework for Image-Based Counterfeit Coin Detection Using Pruned Fuzzy Associative Classifier, in the journal Systems with Applications last year.

Canadian counterfeit coin expert Mike Marshall, however, remains sceptical.

Over the past year, Marshall has repeatedly reported fake coins to eBay, only to have the e-commerce giant refuse to remove them from its platform.

“One hundred thirty-seven times in the last calendar year, I have reported coins to eBay … and the item was not removed because the AI said it was not counterfeit,” said Marshall in an interview with Canadian Coin News.

Marshall argues that counterfeit coin detection by AI programs will never work in a numismatic setting, where new varieties of coins are constantly being discovered, different dies are used to mint the coins, and wear and damage make the surfaces appear different from freshly minted coins.

“They would have to have someone constantly upgrade it,” said Marshall. “It would be a logistical nightmare.”

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1 Comment

  • 888STARZ says:

    Fascinating to see AI outperforming human experts in detecting counterfeit coins! This could revolutionize the numismatic world, making it safer for collectors and investors. However, I wonder if it will completely replace human expertise or just act as a supportive tool. https://888-starz.cc/

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