Counterfeiters making fakes of pre-Confederation tokens, say collectors

According to some collectors, it appears counterfeiters have taken to faking Canadian pre-Confederation tokens.

The eBay listing that prompted these concerns has since “been removed, or this item is not available,” according to the listing at ebay.ca/itm/253404247497.

‘JUST LOOKS WRONG’

“Just looks wrong—too strong details, and appears to have beads (legitimate ones have denticles). And most of the seller’s other listings appear to be fakes (and he has in the past few minutes switched the description to ‘Antique Imitation’),” reads an email by collector and Toronto Coin Club member Ian Speers. “But dangerous, as it can fool those not familiar with the series, and there look to be deliberate efforts to make it look old.”

The token ‘just looks wrong—too strong details, and appears to have beads,’ according to collector Ian Speers, who adds ‘legitimate ones have denticles.’

Speers noted how “unfortunately, as these are not legal tender, the laws that catch decimal fakes likely do not apply.”

He also asked colleagues to alert the Canadian Coin Certification Service (CCCS) and International Coin Certification Service (ICCS),  and added he’s hoping to “have a specimen in hand by Torex,” which will be held Feb. 24-25 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and 10 a.m.-3 p.m., respectively.