The 1749 Moscow rouble from China is increasingly common (being sold from China, Canada,
Greece &&) but now we have a 1748. It appears to be from the same mold with just the 49
changed to 48. The new production is degraded and perhaps even a cast from one of the 1749
fakes with the alteration done afterwards.

1748: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=320191458478

1749: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=220178610324

I sent a note to a Canadian seller of the 1749 and pointed out that it was a Chinese fake; he replied
that this was not possible as he had obtained it in New York!

RWJ

Thanks Julian - there should be a list of general fakes out there. Julian, can you actually confirm whether this is a fake or not?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=120192740862

If so, add 1747 to the list too.

Thanks for the link, I missed this one. It is also bad, the obverse is identical to the 1748
and the reverse has only the 8 changed to a 7. I originally thought that these might be
from engraved dies but your discovery appears to confirm that they are in fact casts.

There is no general list of fakes at present. In the RNS Journal I have been illustrating
counterfeits for some time but they are in no particular order. RNS Newsletter 19 (spring
2007) has an index of those illustrated to that date and it could be posted here if there is interest
in doing so. The list covers about 220 different pieces.

RWJ

Julian, just one more opinion on this 1752 coin: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=120193254111

What actually bugs me is that there are actually people that bother to pay a few hundred on such examples where it could perhaps use to buy genuine coins, or rather even decent catalogues. I don't really collect rubles from that era because of the price therefore I don't have much exposure to what genuine ones are supposed to look like.

I would definately agree that a listing of counterfeit coins would be very interesting and can educate people from avoiding counterfeits but then counterfeiters are learning at the same time. It's a sad cat and mouse game Looks like I'll have to pick up a few journals of the RNS soon.

I had missed this one as well! At any rate you are correct, another fake.
The obverse is again the same and the reverse just has the date changed
and mintmaster letter E added. I think we can expect to see several more
Elizabethan roubles in the next few months.

I will post the list of fakes as soon as possible (in a new thread).

RWJ

Trying to keep up with the flood of fakes on ebay is an almost impossible task, especially for one person (and that's just for the Russian section!). To stay on top of them all requires a group effort by collectors.

Another one perhaps? 1752 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=160187492494

In my opinion, this one is also a fake.

It looks like the forgers might be creating a complete ММД date run.

It's a losing battle - all the counterfeits need is to buy the orignal coins, which might be expensive in the initial stage and then mass sell the fakes, profit which is then cycled back into the counterfeiting chain.

I would say YEP.I have seen this one at a couple of other sites from Chinese dealers.I lookfor ;The other coins available from the seller ----19th -18th century items----A starting price of $69 & up'---A too nice look to the item---check other sellers.I recently learned a lesson about a 1729 pPeter 2nd Ruble .MAC

Is this one from the same Chinese series? - http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=290197965321

Yes. Thanks to the do-nothing policy at eBay these pieces will increasingly be seen
coming from countries besides China.

RWJ

As the saying goes, if you don't know your coins, make very sure that you know your supplier.

FYI - Now sold from Latvia

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=150218412387