US MINT ISSUES FIRST LASER-ENGRAVED COIN

As the American Numismatic Association concludes its annual convention – dubbed the "World's Fair of Money" – this weekend in Oklahoma City, the coin-collecting community continues to be plagued by one of its most pressing issues: A proliferation of Chinese-made counterfeits.

According to the association, such fakes are more widespread than ever. They're often sold, experts say, through online auction facilitators such as eBay to unwitting collectors fooled by too-good-to-be-true bargains.

The U.S. Mint says its latest coin release, featuring laser engraving, marks a leap forward in counterfeit-busting technology, and some believe the agency may be thumbing its nose at bogus coin makers in the process.

"With the proliferation of Chinese counterfeits on online auction facilitators, the U.S. government is clearly stepping in and trying to do something," said Scott Travers, an author and numismatist who serves as editor-in-chief of COINage magazine. "The mint is trying to send a very public message by coming up with new technology that will thwart counterfeiters and set them back generations."

What makes this issuing unique is the first-time use of laser technology – in particular its laser-engraved privy mark, a design element typically used for marketing or historic purposes. For instance, a 2020 American Eagle coin commemorating the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II featured a privy mark reading "V75."

Experts say the fakes commonly appear on online auction sites, often offered at seemingly bargain prices. Supposedly one-ounce silver coins might be listed for as low as $16 despite the fact that the going price of silver is more than twice that.

"A lot of people fall into that trap," said prominent numismatist John Albanese, founder and CEO of Certified Acceptance Corporation, one of three major coin authentication companies serving the coin-collecting world. "But if the price of silver is $34 an ounce and someone is selling it for $16 or $19, you can guarantee that it's counterfeit. It's a minefield."

Albanese said counterfeits can look remarkably genuine, even to longtime collectors. He keeps a magnet in his office as one method of detecting silver fakes, usually made of steel – which unlike silver, will be drawn to the magnetic pull.

While the 2025 American Eagle represents a quantum leap forward, he said that still doesn't solve counterfeiting issues with coins produced in earlier years.

To read the complete article, see:
US Mint issues first laser-engraved coin. Some say it sends a message to counterfeiters (https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/08/23/us-mints-first-laser-engraved-coin-marks-technological-milestone/85783290007/)

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