The first rule of counterfeit detection is, “See what’s there, not what you’re expecting.” This according to Mike Marshall, Canada’s pre-eminent counterfeit coin expert, who led a two-and-a-half-hour seminar at the recent National Postage Stamp and Coin Show in Mississauga. An air-traffic controller by day, Marshall also uses his dedicated concentration and problem-solving skills for the good of the hobby since 2007. “When people are looking at coins, they don’t see what’s there – they see what they were expecting to see – and that’s where they get burned,” said Marshall, a resident of Trenton, Ont. Continue reading →
A counterfeit 1914 Canadian $5 gold coin is a 'brand new' example available on the market, said Mike Marshall, who believes its manufacturer is the same person producing fake 1911 silver dollars and 1921 half-dollars with a 'bad obverse but an awesome legend.'
