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If the coin is valuable enough (possibly 5k pounds or above) they may not charge any at all - which is customary for many larger auction houses. I sold one of those "big ticket" coins, well two of them, and got back 105% of the sales price. In other words, they paid ME 5% of the buyer's commission. Contact them and ask what they might do for you.

As far as I understand it, they use an original coin to cast a mould from, and then use the mould to pressure cast dies, from which the fakes are then struck. I don't know if digital scanning is yet employed, but certainly quite feasible. But either way, any imperfections on the original host coin are indeed replicated on every fake, along with any moulding flaws (such as the dodgy QVI on 1905 halfcrowns, dings and dents on eg. 1818 halfcrowns and wreath crowns) and alterations made (such as changing the digits to mimic an 1850 shilling as hinted above), which is how an astute viewer can identify them as copies.

I truly can't get my head round why an experienced and respected seller of such long standing is trying to pass a "copy" - modern fake, for £155. link

https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:cdb71daf-262d-4904-9b5f-60378e405975 Cardboard coins

Thomas Engelen has told myself and Kai that he has amended his book on Toy Cardboard coins to include a few new ones that have come form the contacts within this group so thank you to him and to Kai and myself I suppose for offering up new examples. I will try find the link and post it again. It is free on the Newman Numismatics Portal and is a fascinating read.

Thanks Vicky, that's interesting to know. It's not as valuable as that, probably about a grand, but may be worth the ask as you say. Much obliged.

Astronomical. Die imperfections I can live with, but not identical digs which - being incuse - cannot have come from anything to do with the die.

Look at it a different way. It's either the 2021 coin that has been dipped, or what are the odds on the two dozen identical scratches, nicks, lumps etc appearing on two coins. Attached is an image from when this was discussed previously with the copy similarities highlighted. The resolution isn't wonderful, but the only matching item on the reverse appears to be the small mark on the right edge of the bottom shield. The obverse has numerous matching marks including behind the head, including the bigger scratches in the field. I'm still suspicious.

And this is increasingly the problem... Whilst somewhere there will no doubt be a few genuine high grade die number 64's, as has been said above the VAST MAJORITY of these are modern, high quality white metal pressure cast fakes originating in the Far East. The cud on the N of tenth is a good pointer to these as well as the attendant fine circumferential die crack that connects many of the letters of the reverse legend - maybe a fault in the original pressure mould or on the original host coin, but now replicated manifold. Unless you can do a metal test or a conductivity test (such as with one of today's sophisticated metal detectors), I would be VERY wary of purchasing a die 64 1864 florin! Beware also of course "nice" 1905 halfcrowns, wreath crowns, 1850 shillings and so on. All have their diagnostic flaws some easier to spot than others - eg. wrong font 5 and 0 (too large and bulbous) on the shillings, dodgy QVI in the garter of the halfcrowns etc. Other fakes that aren't taken from a host coin, such as the quarter farthings mentioned above and the plethora of replica 1933 pennies, but which are made with modern CAD created dies are easier to spot as they just aren't accurate enough, but still fool many collectors, both novice and more experienced. Beware!