Genuine Issues
1861 Proof
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1863 Sc 27 |
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1886 Reprint Sc 50 |
The 1886 required a new stone to make.
To tell if the stamp is an 1861/63 or 1886/89 one needs to pay close attention to the top right corner for changes in the 2 and side ornaments
Genuine stamps have the line just above "UKU LETA" ending below the label containing the "2" at the right hand side.
On the left hand side this line starts a little above the label containing the "2".
Spiro Forgeries
These are the most common.
Aside from a very different facial expression,
The Spiro forgery can be recognized by the absence of a dot behind "KENETA".
The "2" in the upper left corner is too far to the right (it should be in the center).
The frame-line above "UKU LETA" ends too high on the right hand side.
Fournier Forgery
Thick border and letters
Two's and ornaments very different
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S.A. Taylor Forgery |
A wide eyed king
A's are faulty
Many breaks in frame lines
Torres Forgery
Looks identical to the Fournier
Sperati also made a forgery but I have not located any copy of one