coin question

News: Welcome to the Canadian Paper Money Forum.

Hi All,
I realize this isn't a coin site...
However, my son brought home a 2005 $2 coin that seems a bit different.  The detail looks comparable to any other toonie bit it sounds different when dropped.  Doesn't have the same ring that a normal coins does.  The silvery portion also looks a slightly lighter shade, like perhaps aluminum.  Were different metal compositions used in 2005?  i assume most counterfeit coins don't have the same detail as regular issue coins.  Thoughts?
Thanks,
Craig

Counterfeit toonies produced by someone in Montreal area have been circulating in last 2-3 years. These coins are dated 2004 and 2005. In general, these coins have a lower level of detail. If you attach a scan I may be able to tell you if it's a genuine coin or not. The coin I have seen had a slightly whiter ring and a brighter (but dull) core.

There was no change in metal composition in 2005.

Compare the markings on the outer edge (rim) with another twoonie, and, if you have access to a jewellery scale, check the weight. Its a nice conversation piece for only two bucks.

1) Spurious Twoonies are lighter than regular ones
2) Spurious Twoonies have rather hazy rims and less define hash/ridges (hazy silver vs more brilliant silver)
3) Spurious Twoonies have a less distinctive "ping" to them when dropped
4) Spurious Twoonies will stand out like a sore thumb if you put them together with multiple twoonies and   
    look at them from the side.
5) Spurious Twoonies have less defined details in terms of the text and images on the coin.

Here's the news story regarding the original bust, which was humorously "by mistake"

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/story/2006/10/06/qc-counterfeitloonies.html

Here's copy of image from RCMP website:

{http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/pubs/ci-rc/cf/images/coin-piece.jpg}

And the corresponding report: http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/pubs/ci-rc/cf/index-eng.htm

Thanks all.  I don't have a functioning scanner right now but it looks like I've got my answer.  Thanks Wizard for your bullets and pic.  The thicker ring around the core piece was another thing I noticed before posting.  Looks like I'm the proud owner of a $2 souvenir coin.  Good tip about stacking a number of toonie together and then viewing from the edge.  Very obvious.
I consider myself somewhat knowledgeable in Canadian currency and I wouldn't have thought anything different about this coin.  Kudos to the girl that worked with my son.  She accidently dropped the coin while handling some change and said, "hey look, it's a fake!"

Craig

Thanks Moneycow for posting this topic. I had a 2005 $2 for sometime now which also seemed very different than all other $2s around. So i guess im not the only one that got one of these fakes.

Nice find! 

I've seen a few of these "2005" twoonies.
The edge is a pretty good clue, I've never seen a fake with a clean edge.

I've seen a few with the exact same weight as a regular coin though.

I put some images on another forum (same user name "La loutre"), you can see a few images here (it's french, but you can use google translator if you're interested in the text): http://www.numicanada.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1333&start=15

I have heard of fake Euros but now fake Toonies.  If there is a buck to be made I guess anything will be faked.  I would like to get my hands on one of these.  Will definitely keep an eye out.  Perhaps this post should include where the toonies were found.

I have heard of fake Euros but now fake Toonies.  If there is a buck to be made I guess anything will be faked.  I would like to get my hands on one of these.  Will definitely keep an eye out.  Perhaps this post should include where the toonies were found.

Almost 2 bucks being made on this one