The E-Sylum:  Volume 7, Number 21, May 23, 2004, Article 11

LARSON FORGERY BOOK

  Regarding the new book based on interviews with Hofmann,
  Becky Elizondo writes: "I read with interest the May 16, 2004
  issue regarding the soon to be published book by Chuck Larson.
  I don't know if he's written something new, but the following has
  been in the ANA library for some time. Mr. Larson used to have
  a website at www.coinsmith.com and had the book for sale. I
  don't know if the site is still active. [It's not - Editor]

  Here is the ANA library listing.

  AA70.L3
  Larson, Charles Martin
  Numismatic forgery, an illustrated, annotated guide to the
  practical principles, methods, and techniques employed in the
  private manufacture of rare coins.

  N.p., n.pub., 1995. 295p.
  COINS--COUNTERFEITS & COUNTERFEITING"

  [So it appears this manuscript has been floating around
  for a while.  This week I learned that copies of the Larson
  manuscript were viewed at one or more sessions of the
  American Numismatic Association's Summer Seminar
  Counterfeit Detection class.  This is apparently where the
  "already being used as a teaching aid for rare-coin collectors"
  blurb comes from.

  The book was advertised in a weekly coin publication
  last week, and I ordered and have already received my
  copy.  Rather than focusing on how to DETECT forgeries,
  the book appears to be a step-by-step instruction manual
  for MAKING forgeries, a very dangerous thing to put in
  the hands of the general public.  Although the ads for the
  book have already let the cat out of the bag, I won't
  publish any more details.  One person familiar with the
  manuscript called it "a how-to manual for every counterfeiter,
  forger and con artist out there who is lacking tools,
  techniques or tips in his quest to defraud the public. It is a
  complete course in coin (not paper) counterfeiting.
  Step-by-step, Counterfeiting for Dummies."

  My sources note that once ANA summer seminar
  staff realized how explicit and technical the book was in its
  descriptions, it was pulled from usage.  But if the ANA has
  decided to not promote the book, it's not doing a very good
  job - an ad for the book appears in the June issue of
  Numismatist, and as Becky pointed out, a manuscript (or at
  least an early draft of it) is listed in the library catalog and is
  presumably available to any member wishing to borrow it.

  Others will undoubtedly debate the merit of publishing and
  promoting this book, and good arguments can be made on
  either side of the issue.   The book itself is at once both
  fascinating and frightening.  As a bibliophile I just had to
  have a copy to read, but I hope it's no best-seller. -Editor]

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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