2010 ANA SUMMER SEMINAR EXPERIENCE

By Brian Hunt

I would first like to think the Tennessee State Numismatic Society for awarding me with the 2010 ANA Summer Seminar Senior Scholarship. I am very thankful for being able to experience the seminar and with this scholarship, I was able to attend the seminar.

This was my first time in flying and I will admit I was a little nervous when I saw that large airport for the first time. Thankfully I met some nice people whom showed me where I was to go to get my ticket, to go through the line and check for my weapons I carried on board, LOL (lots of laugh).  My flight took a stop at the Dallas Fort Worth airport where I had to switch planes which was a very terrifying experience. I dropped my entire carry-on luggage and even left my red book on the plane, but I made it and got on just in time before the airplane took off.

During my first week at the seminar I met many different numismatic collectors, dealers and graders and even had the opportunity to eat breakfast with the president of the American Numismatic Society.

The class that I took on the first week was the detection of counterfeit and altered coins. My class was taught by Michael “Skip” Fazzari and Brian Silliman, they were great teachers whom had broad experience in coin grading. They showed the class many techniques that can be used to help identify a counterfeit and altered coin. This class showed us how to look for problems such as how added mint marks leave small marks or even soldering residue and how removed mintmarks will have small marks that do not blend in with the metal flow of the coin.

We also looked at the historical Chinese counterfeits that range from a grade of 1 to 6. The grading system is actually a comparison test number of the fake versus the real coin. A grade of 1 is very noticeable and will be obvious to a novice collector. The grade of 3 begins showing the time and care the counterfeiter takes but there are still many characteristics that a experienced collector can notice and the grade 5 and 6 are coins that 30% or less of the coin collecting world would be able to recognize as a fake such as not failing the magnet test, good relief in the design and correct weight but specific gravity weight and mint luster has not yet been perfected by the counterfeiters.

Some of the techniques we studied were specific gravity tests, diagnostic comparison and alteration identification. I also learned important coin terminology, proper techniques for coin cleaning and even the proper way to view your coin with the lighting and your specific power of magnification.

Another specific thing I learned is that if you dip your coin, you need to use baking soda and a water mix to neutralize the acidic composition of the dipped coin which will also remove the odor that could be left behind. I studied many coins and saw multiple types of counterfeits and alterations that could easily pass from dealer to dealer as genuine. 

With the great knowledge I picked up from these two outstanding teachers I now feel more confident in my grading and counterfeit detection abilities. I would like to thank the TSNS again for allowing me to attend this great class and having the opportunity to learn from some of the greatest minds in the numismatic world.