Following are some important excerpts from the U.S. Code, Title 18, “Crimes and Criminal Procedure,” applicable to coins and precious metals bars. They deal with counterfeiting of coins and dies as well as fraudulently altering and defacing U.S. and foreign...

The Hobby Protection Act, signed into law Nov. 29, 1973, and amended in 2014, is designed to protect collectors against deceptive reproductions and the manufacture of imitation collectible items. The Federal Trade Commission promulgates rules and regulations under the Hobby...

The best defense as a smart buyer is a good offense when it comes to protecting yourself from buying fake coins or precious metals bars, regardless of their metal content. The best protection is to use common sense when purchasing...