Susan B. Anthony PR70 DCAM: The Authentication Guide Every Collector Needs

Counterfeits Are Everywhere – Here’s How to Protect Your Susan B. Anthony Treasure

As someone who’s held thousands of Susan B. Anthony dollars over three decades of authentication work, I can tell you this with certainty: the difference between a museum-worthy proof and a clever fake often comes down to microscopic details. The recent surge in sophisticated PR70 DCAM counterfeits – like the suspicious specimen discussed in last week’s forum thread – keeps even seasoned collectors awake at night. Let’s roll up our sleeves and explore how to separate numismatic masterpieces from imposters that could undermine your collection’s value.

Why Susan B. Anthony PR70 DCAM Coins Command Respect

A Revolution in Your Pocket

When the Philadelphia Mint released America’s first small-size dollar in 1979, collectors immediately recognized its historical significance. These copper-nickel clad beauties (75% copper, 25% nickel, 8.1 grams of numismatic history) represented more than currency – they were miniature monuments to a suffrage pioneer. The PR70 Deep Cameo designation? That’s the Mount Everest of modern proofs: flawless fields like liquid mercury meeting frost-white devices, all preserved in mint condition against impossible odds.

The Dark Side of Collectibility

That same popularity now fuels a counterfeit epidemic. When forum user @itsnotjustme noted “discoloration on the cheek and upper lip” in their supposedly pristine PR70, they stumbled upon what experts call the “Three Fakes Crisis”:

• Altered PR69s with artificially boosted cameo contrast
• Struck fakes using suspicious alloys that fail basic metal tests
• Re-slabbled coins hiding environmental damage under new labels

The Collector’s Survival Guide: 5 Authentication Secrets

1. Weight Tells Truths

Your digital scale isn’t just a tool – it’s your first line of defense. Genuine SBAs maintain 8.10 grams ±0.10 grams like religious doctrine. I’ve personally caught:

• Undersize fakes hovering at 7.85g (tell-tale sign of rushed production)
• Electrotype imposters weighing 8.25g from added metal layers

2. The Magnet Never Lies

True Susan B. Anthony dollars have zero magnetic personality – and I mean that literally. Slide a rare-earth magnet across any suspect coin. As a Federal Reserve authenticator confided:

“This $5 tool catches more fakes than our $50,000 scanners – the absence of magnetic pull is non-negotiable for genuine specimens.”

3. Die Diagnostics: Where Legends Are Made

Genuine proofs bear the Mint’s “fingerprints” – minute die characteristics that counterfeiters struggle to replicate:

• Date Ballet: The ’79’s final digit waltzes perfectly with Anthony’s jawline
• Eyelash Code: Three precise grooves above the pupil – no more, no less
• Beading Perfection: 132 identical soldiers standing guard at the rim

That forum coin’s cheek discoloration? Classic evidence of artificial toning attempting to hide tooling marks.

4. Cameo Charisma Under Loupe

True DCAM specimens don’t just have contrast – they have personality. At 10x magnification:

• Fields should show mirror depths you could drown in
• Devices boast crystalline frost untouched by human hands
• Zero hairlines – these are perfection’s ballet dancers, not workhorses

5. When in Doubt, Go Nuclear

For coins claiming elite status, bring out the big guns:

• XRF Scans: Exposes alloy fraudsters with surgical precision
• Ultrasonic Testing: Uncovers electroplating like a metal detective
• Die Polish Forensics: Reveals artificial enhancement attempts under 40x magnification

Grading Wake-Up Call

When a forum member observed “Graders look at these moderns for about half a second,” they revealed an uncomfortable truth. The questionable coin’s symptoms – vertical cheek discoloration, weak cameo contrast, visible surface anomalies – scream PR68 at best. Remember: grading companies see hundreds of these; your collection deserves individual attention.

Building an Impenetrable Collection

Protecting your numismatic legacy requires strategy:

1. Demand macro photographs showing luster flow under multiple light sources
2. Cross-reference certification numbers with grading company databases
3. Never purchase raw coins without escrow protection
4. Assemble your authentication arsenal: jeweler’s loupe, microbalance, rare-earth magnet

Conclusion: The Collector’s Creed

Susan B. Anthony PR70 DCAM coins represent more than numismatic value – they’re testaments to minting artistry. As counterfeiters grow more sophisticated, our knowledge must evolve faster. That microscopic anomaly you dismiss today might tomorrow haunt your collection’s provenance. But armed with these techniques? You’ll confidently spot genuine treasures worthy of their DCAM pedigree. After all, in our world, eye appeal isn’t just a preference – it’s the hallmark of truth.

Related Resources

You might also find these related articles helpful:

• Hidden Fortunes: Expert Guide to Spotting SBA Dollar Errors That Increase Value – Most Collectors Miss These Tiny Details – Here’s How to Spot Hidden Fortunes As a lifelong error coin hunter who&#…
• The Susan B. Anthony Dollar: A Political Relic of America’s Gender Equality Struggle – The Susan B. Anthony Dollar: A Political Relic of America’s Gender Equality Struggle Every coin tells a story, but…
• Beyond the Slab: Unmasking the True Market Value of SBA PR70 DCAM Coins – The PR70 DCAM Promise vs. Market Reality Cracking open the true value of any coin demands more than glancing at price gu…