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Engelhard Fake and Counterfeit Silver Bars

[NEW: We have just added forums for Engelhard collectors!]

This page details all the fake/counterfeit Engelhard bars that we have encountered.

Quick Tips:

Do not buy proof Engelhard Prospectors without carefully understanding what they should look like,
Do not buy any 1984 Engelhard Prospectors without an understanding of what the counterfeits are like,
Be wary of multiple proof Engelhard Prospectors sold together,
Weigh any Engelhard products to make sure the weight is correct (at least 31.10g for a 1oz bar/round),
Be wary of any bars with no serial number (most, but not all, real Engelhard bars have a serial number; few Engelhard rounds have a serial number).
Be wary of any bars or rounds that come in a hard plastic 'air tite'; few (if any) real Engelhard bars/rounds were issued this way.

This page contains:

Rounds
Stamped/Pressed Bars
Others (poured collectible, 100oz) bars

Rounds:

Image: Fake

Image: Real

Name

Notes

Sample Serial Numbers

Fake:

Real BU:	Real Proof:

1984 1oz Silver Prospector

This is an extremely common fake. Never, ever buy a proof Engelhard Prospector (especially 1984!) unless you are an expert or have consulted an expert. A few giveaways:

The real one has details of what looks like a mountain below the trees to the right of the prospector.
The real one has detailed waves, whereas the fake just has lines.
The real one has a smooth pan, whereas the fake is frosted.
The real one has a curved leg of letter 'R' where it appears on the front, the fake does not.
The real one has a straight line at the top of the 'G' in 'ENGELHARD' on the reverse, the fake does not.
The real one has a longer vertical line in the '+', whereas the fake has a longer horizontal line.
The real one has a tiny dot in the middle of the 'bull' logo on the reverse, the fake one is much larger.

We have versions of this that claim to be brass, as well as iron. Both appear nearly identical (except one is attracted to a magnet).

Note that the real proof Engelhard Prospector is quite rare.

n/a

Fake:

Real BU:	Real Proof:

1984 1oz Silver Prospector

This is a more realistic fake than the one above (although this one weighed 21.2g).

This is an extremely common fake. Never, ever buy a proof Engelhard Prospector (especially 1984!) unless you are an expert or have consulted an expert. A few giveaways:

The real one has details of what looks like a mountain below the trees to the right of the prospector.
The real one has detailed waves, whereas the fake just has lines.
The real one has a curved leg of letter 'R' where it appears on the front, the fake does not.
The real one has a complete circle on the reverse, this fake has a break in it.

We have versions of this that claim to be brass, as well as iron. Both appear nearly identical (except one is attracted to a magnet).

Note that the real proof Engelhard Prospector is quite rare.

n/a

Stamped/Pressed Bars:

Image: Fake	Image: Real	Name	Notes	Sample Serial Numbers
Fake:	Real:	1oz Bar (EI-10V)	The most obvious problems with the fake are that [1] it is proof, and [2] has no serial number. Also: The real bar has a rounded dot in '.999', whereas on the fake it is square, The real bar has a rounded 'G' in 'ENGELHARD', whereas the fake has a right-angle. The real bar has a low bar in the 'A' in ENGELHARD, whereas it is higher on the fake bar. The real bar has more pronounced frosting of the big 'E' in the globe than the fake bar.	n/a
Fake: [TO COME]	Real:	1oz TD Bank Bar	The most obvious problems with the fake are that [1] it is proof, and [2] has no serial number. Also: [We are awaiting samples]	n/a
Fake:	Real:	1oz Bar (EI-10V)	This is a very respectable fake. The most obvious problems with the fake are that [1] it is proof, and [2] has no serial number. Also: The real bar has no crossbar in the 'G' in Engelhard, whereas the fake bar does. The real bar has the small straight line coming down from the 'R' in 'ENGELHARD' starting on the left, whereas on the fake it starts to the left.	n/a

Image: Fake

Image: Real

Name

Notes

Sample Serial Numbers

Fake:

Real:

1oz Bar (EI-10V)

The most obvious problems with the fake are that [1] it is proof, and [2] has no serial number. Also:

The real bar has a rounded dot in '.999', whereas on the fake it is square,
The real bar has a rounded 'G' in 'ENGELHARD', whereas the fake has a right-angle.
The real bar has a low bar in the 'A' in ENGELHARD, whereas it is higher on the fake bar.
The real bar has more pronounced frosting of the big 'E' in the globe than the fake bar.

n/a

Fake:
[TO COME]

Real:

1oz TD Bank Bar

The most obvious problems with the fake are that [1] it is proof, and [2] has no serial number. Also:

[We are awaiting samples]

n/a

Fake:

Real:

1oz Bar (EI-10V)

This is a very respectable fake. The most obvious problems with the fake are that [1] it is proof, and [2] has no serial number. Also:

The real bar has no crossbar in the 'G' in Engelhard, whereas the fake bar does.
The real bar has the small straight line coming down from the 'R' in 'ENGELHARD' starting on the left, whereas on the fake it starts to the left.

n/a

Other bars:

We have a page devoted to fake Engelhard 100oz bars (made entirely of lead).
We have pages on both types of real Engelhard 100oz silver bars that are filled with lead, here and here.
We also have some information on fake poured bars (made of real silver)

Do you know of any varieties not listed here? Please be sure to let us know!
If you are the owner of any of the bars here, and would like the picture and/or serial number removed (or credit for the picture), please let us know as well.