Counterfeiting General

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At the turn of the 14th century, when the quality of Czech currency deteriorated due to the replacement of silver with cheaper metals, counterfeiting also improved. This happened despite strict prosecutions and the death penalties that were imposed for such offenses.
One example of such counterfeiting included lead coins plated with silver. The authenticity could be detected by biting the coin (lead is soft, while silver is not).
Counterfeiters’ workshops were often hidden in karst and sandstone caves and equipped with small laboratories, as silvering the metal was a chemical process requiring special tools.

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