Here are the famous 24 ways to distinguish good Jerry’s Nugget from bad ones.

Note : on these photos we can distinguish two types of fakes. The ones i call Indonesian ones (because my magic shop told me they were coming from this country) which are probably the “reprints” we can find on ebay. Not so bad cards but absolutely not similar to the real ones. And the other type are called the chinese fakes which are almost perfect fakes with very bad paper. They were probably only produced to be sold as real sealed decks, not to be played with. They even look older than real ones !

Note 2 : There is now a third version of fakes. These fakes have a very long flap, a real stamp but the box is bigger than real ones, cards are not good and Fonts are not the good ones on the stamp and the box.

Note 3 : march 2016 – I have started adding information about green Jerry’s Nugget and Chicken Nugget which are not really fakes but only tribute to Jerry’s Nugget.

Note 4 : march 2016 – It seems there is 52 decks of Yellow Jerry’s Nugget printed on Bicycle recently. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWDEFb5lXrk

Note 5 : july 2016 – 23th tip added. And Duy Quang Vu discovered a Magic Shop selling tribute decks for Jerry’s Nugget in new colors. I will add them in the list as soon as I get new information. See the link here

Note 6 : august 2016 – 24th tip added thanks to Mads Schatz-Jakobsen

Note 7 : june 2018 – small modifications

More information on Lee Asher’s site

On this page we will sum up the features of each version of fakes :

* Fake 1 : Chinese decks which mimic almost all features with very bad cards : only created to fool people.
* Fake 2 : Indonesian decks (or chinese maybe) sold in most magic shops. Far from the real ones with standard to low cards
* Fake 3 : New version of fakes easy to find on ebay or magic shops. Far from the real ones with standard to low cards
* Fake 4 : Black version of Jerry’s Nugget. They did not exist in 1970. They are always fakes.
* Green JN : Green version Jerry’s Nugget created by AFPCC. They are not really fakes but more a piece of art and tribute. Only 35 decks available
* Chicken : Parody of Jerry’s Nugget created by Hanson Chien and a tribute to Jerry’s Nugget mixed with a McDonalds theme. Available in Blue, Red and Black with trick cards (some of them from the first release show Jerry’s Nugget text). They are also available in White.
* Yellow : I have no details except a video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWDEFb5lXrk  Not included
* Kacio : Small print of very special Jerry’s Nugget Tribute. Not included in this survey because they are very different.

Updated on june 28th 2018 (small modifications)

Of course, you can contact me for further details and questions. Or if you want to sell cards, I’m always looking for new real, fake, or colored Jerry’s Nugget cards !

  • 1- The box is yellow-ish

    The box is yellow-ish.

    A real deck between 2 indonesian fakes

    A real deck between 2 indonesian fakes


    Fake chinese decks

    Fake chinese decks

    Real ones : White to very light yellow
    Fake 1 : Yellow
    Fake 2 : White
    Fake 3 : White
    Fake 4 : Black
    Green : White
    Chicken : White

    ♥ : helps spot sealed decks

  • 2 - The stamp is not in the middle of the box

    The stamp is glued at the left of the box

    Real one, stamp at the left

    Real one, stamp at the left


    Fake one with stamp centered

    Fake one with stamp centered


    Fake 3 : Stamp centered

    Fake 3 : Stamp centered

    Real one : stamp is on the left of the front of the box
    Fake 1 : stamp is a bit on the left
    Fake 2 : stamp is on the middle
    Fake 3 : stamp is on the middle
    Fake 4 : stamp is on the middle
    Green : ?? is there a stamp ?
    Chicken : stamp is a bit on the left

    ♥ : helps spot sealed decks

  • 3 - The stamp is not a sticker, it is a real stamp

    The real one has a real stamp, the fake chinese one has a sticker.

    Fake chinese sticker

    Fake chinese sticker


    Real one, not a sticker

    Real one, not a sticker


    Fake 3 : Real stamp

    Fake 3 : Real stamp

    Real one : stamp is a stamp
    Fake 1 : stamp is a sticker
    Fake 2 : stamp is a sticker
    Fake 3 : stamp is a stamp
    Fake 4 : stamp is a sticker
    Green : ??
    Chicken : stamp is a stamp

  • 4 - The font on the stamp is not sharp and has spaces, the color is strong blue

    Real one, glued stamp

    Real one, glued stamp

    Fake sticker

    Fake sticker


    Fake 3 : Stamp centered

    Fake 3 : Stamp centered

    Real one : stamp is strong blue with a specific large and unprecise font
    Fake 1 : stamp is strong blue with a narrow font
    Fake 2 : stamp is light blue with a narrow font
    Fake 3 : stamp is strong blue with a narrow font
    Fake 4 : stamp is strong blue with a narrow font
    Green : ??
    Chicken : stamp is the same color but the font is more precise than real ones

    ♥ : helps spot sealed decks

  • 5 - The font of Jerry’s Nugget is not the same on edge of fake boxes

    See a real one between two fake indonesians

    Real one between two fakes

    Real one between two fakes

    Real ones : Good
    Fake 1 : To be checked
    Fake 2 : Bad
    Fake 3 : Bad
    Fake 4 : Not bad
    Green : Good
    Chicken : Good but Chicken Nugget instead of Jerry’s Nugget

    ♥ : helps spot sealed decks

  • 6 - The opening flap is longer on real ones than on fakes

    The opening flap must be longer than in most modern boxes. It is not the case with bad fakes.

    Fake on the left, real on the right

    Fake on the left, real on the right


    Fake 3 : Long flap

    Fake 3 : Long flap

    Real ones : Long flap
    Fake 1 : Long flap
    Fake 2 : Short flap
    Fake 3 : Very long flap, harder than real one
    Fake 4 : Short flap
    Green : Long flap
    Chicken : Long flap

  • 7 - There is no number on the flap on real ones but there is a whiter square

    There is no number on the opening flap. It is only on chinese fakes. On real boxes, there is a whiter square on the flap just where the stamp is.

    Fake one with red number on flap

    Fake one with red number on flap


    Real deck, whiter square on flap

    Real deck, whiter square on flap

    Real ones : No number, whiter square
    Fake 1 : Number
    Fake 2 : Nothing
    Fake 3 : Nothing
    Fake 4 : Nothing
    Green : Nothing
    Chicken : Nothing

  • 8 - When you can see cards, the faces have vertical lines

    When you can see cards, the biggest way to prove they are real is the face : it has vertical lines whereas the back has squares (just like newer cards)

    Real one, with vertical lines on face

    Real one, with vertical lines on face


    Real ones : Vertical lines

    Real ones : Vertical lines


    Fake chinese, squares on face

    Fake chinese, squares on face


    Fake 2 : Squared face

    Fake 2 : Squared face


    Fake 3 : Squared face

    Fake 3 : Squared face

    Real ones : Lines on face
    Fake 1 : Squares
    Fake 2 : Squares
    Fake 3 : Squares
    Fake 4 : Squares
    Green : Squares
    Chicken : Squares

  • 9 - The Ace of Spade has the lot number in blue

    The Ace of Spade has the lot number in blue. The fake indonesian are really bad with no different colors whereas fake chinese are almost perfect copies.

    Real joker, text in blue

    Real joker, text in blue


    Fake joker

    Fake joker


    Real, Fake 1, Fake 2, Fake 3

    Real, Fake 1, Fake 2, Fake 3

    Real ones : Text in blue (smaller)
    Fake 1 : Text in blue
    Fake 2 : Big font and black text
    Fake 3 : Big font and black text
    Fake 4 : Big font and inversed black and white
    Green : ??
    Chicken : Text in blue small but M 2015

  • 10 - The Joker has small and simple font

    Joker : Real, Fake 1, Fake 2, Fake 3

    Joker : Real, Fake 1, Fake 2, Fake 3

    Real Joker - Fake 3 Joker

    Real Joker – Fake 3 Joker


    Real Joker - Fake 2 Joker

    Real Joker – Fake 2 Joker


    Real Joker - Fake 1 Joker

    Real Joker – Fake 1 Joker

    Real ones : Simple font
    Fake 1 : Simple font
    Fake 2 : Big font for Joker and different graphics
    Fake 3 : Almost good but font is different
    Fake 4 : Big font
    Green : Simple font
    Chicken : Simple font (but different text)

  • 11 - The color is bright

    On the left is a real one, vivid color and on the right you can see a chinese fake one, almost identical but least vivid

    Left : real one, Right : fake chinese

    Left : real one, Right : fake chinese

    Left : real one, Right : fake chinese

    Left : real one, Right : fake chinese

  • 12 - The box contains 52 cards + 2 jokers

    The real ones and the chinese fakes contains only 52 cards + 2 jokers while the indonesian fakes contain 1 card with blank face and one totally blank card.

    Fake 2 - Extra cards

    Fake 2 – Extra cards


    Fake 3 - Extra cards

    Fake 3 – Extra cards

    Real ones : 52+2 jokers
    Fake 1 : 52+2 jokers
    Fake 2 : 52+2 jokers + 1 blank card + 1 blank face
    Fake 3 : 52+2 jokers + 1 blank card + 1 blank face
    Fake 4 : 52+2 jokers + 1 blank card + 1 black face
    Green : 52+2 jokers
    Chicken : 52+2 jokers + 1 Chicken/Jerry card + 1 other color back + 1 double back with nuggets

  • 13 - Unique smell of cards

    I can’t show you that but real Jerry’s Nugget’s cards smell. Even 40 years later, they have a specific chemical smell. It is not the same as new USPCC cards nor the same as vintage Golden Nugget.

    Real ones : Chemical smell, unique
    Fake 1 : No specific smell
    Fake 2 : No specific smell
    Fake 3 : No specific smell
    Fake 4 : No specific smell
    Green : ??
    Chicken : A bit like EPCC smell

  • 14 - Crispy sound

    The sound when you shuffle is not the same as with new cards because of the stock and the special coating.

    Real ones : Crispy sound
    Fake 1 : Normal bicycle sound
    Fake 2 : Normal bicycle sound
    Fake 3 : Normal bicycle sound
    Fake 4 : Normal bicycle sound
    Green : ??
    Chicken : Hard sound

  • 15 - 1970 secret

    With the genuine deck, if you cut the box, you can see a 1970 stamp. On the fake chinese there is a bad stamp with 2010 on it. On the indonesian, nothing appears.

    1970 secret

    1970 secret

    Real ones : 1970
    Fake 1 : 1970 – 2010
    Fake 2 : Nothing
    Fake 3 : Nothing
    Fake 4 : Nothing
    Green : ??
    Chicken : Probably 1970

  • 16 - The box is thinner than other decks

    The box of Real Jerry’s Nugget is thinner than other decks. Some people say that normal deck are 18mm thin while JN are 16mm thin.

    Other vintage decks like Friars Club also used thinner boxes.

    Real deck vs Fake 1 deck

    Real deck vs Fake 1 deck


    Real deck vs Fake 2 deck

    Real deck vs Fake 2 deck


    Real deck vs Fake 3 deck

    Real deck vs Fake 3 deck

    Real ones : Thin box
    Fake 1 : Normal box
    Fake 2 : Normal box
    Fake 3 : Normal box
    Fake 4 : Normal box
    Green : Thick box
    Chicken : Thin box (not as thin as real ones)

    ♥ : helps spot sealed decks

  • 17 - White borders are smaller than on other decks

    Jerry’s Nugget’s cards are white bordered. But the white border is smaller than most of other decks of the USPCC.

    And they are smaller on real deck than on fake decks.

    Real, Fake 1, Fake 2, Fake 3

    Real, Fake 1, Fake 2, Fake 3


    Real, Fake 1, Fake 2, Fake 3

    Real, Fake 1, Fake 2, Fake 3

    Real ones : Small white borders
    Fake 1 : Small white borders
    Fake 2 : Large borders
    Fake 3 : Large borders
    Fake 4 : Large borders
    Green : Small white borders
    Chicken : Small white borders

  • 18 - On sealed boxes, the cellophane is closed by a red strip

    On real decks, the cellophane is closed by a red strip. On most fakes, the strip is transparent just like the cellophane.

    Cellophane and red strip on real deck

    Cellophane and red strip on real deck


    Cellophane and strip on fake 3 deck

    Cellophane and strip on fake 3 deck

    Real ones : Red strip
    Fake 1 : Red Strip
    Fake 2 : Transparent cellophane
    Fake 3 : Transparent cellophane
    Fake 4 : Transparent cellophane
    Green : ??
    Chicken : Red strip

    ♥ : helps spot sealed decks

  • 19 - The color part of the back has squared corners

    On real decks, the colored part of back of the cards has squared corners. On most fakes, this part has rounded corners.

    Real, Fake 1, Fake 2, Fake 3

    Real, Fake 1, Fake 2, Fake 3


    Real, Fake 1, Fake 2, Fake 3

    Real, Fake 1, Fake 2, Fake 3

    Real ones : Squared corners
    Fake 1 : Squared corners
    Fake 2 : Rounded corners
    Fake 3 : Rounded corners
    Fake 4 : Rounded corners
    Green : Squared corners
    Chicken : Squared corners

  • 20 - Decks are red or blue, no other color

    The real Jerry’s Nugget decks can only be found in two colors : Blue or Red.
    You can usually find Black cards on Ebay. The deck is black, the back is black and the faces are in inversed color black.
    Orange decks are less usual but can be found.
    Green decks have been printed a very limited edition by fans of Jerry’s Nugget. They are extremely rare.

    Black Jerry's Nugget deck

    Black Jerry’s Nugget deck


    Black Jerry's Nugget deck

    Black Jerry’s Nugget deck

    Real ones : Blue or Red
    Fake 1 : Blue or Red
    Fake 4 : Black
    Green : Green
    Chicken : Blue or Red or Black or White

    ♥ : helps spot sealed decks

  • 21 - Dribble sound

    Real Jerry’s Nugget cards, thanks to their stock and finish, make a specific sound when dribbling. It is the same sound as most of the decks of the 70’s but different from the new decks.

    Real ones : Vintage sound
    Fake 1 : Usual new sound
    Fake 2 : Usual new sound
    Fake 3 : Usual new sound
    Fake 4 : Usual new sound
    Green : ??
    Chicken : Nice sound

  • 22 - Thinner cards

    The cards of a real Jerry’s Nugget deck are thinner than most of the new playing cards. At least, thinner than all the fake Jerry’s Nugget.

    Real vs Fake 1

    Real vs Fake 1


    Real vs Fake 2

    Real vs Fake 2


    Real vs Fake 3

    Real vs Fake 3

    Real ones : Thin
    Fake 1 :
    Fake 2 :
    Fake 3 :
    Fake 4 : Normal
    Green : Thick
    Chicken : Thin

  • 23 - Stamp tip for sealed decks

    When you have a brand new, perfectly sealed deck of Jerry’s Nugget, it is difficult to prove the authenticity of the cards. You can’t touch cards, you can’t use most of the tips I have given you before.
    But there is one thing that will help you tell that it’s the real thing. And it’s something tricky.

    On real 1970 stamps, the separations are not perfect. Sometimes you have more of the small hole at the left and an almost straight line at the right. Sometimes it’s the opposite. But I have never seen a perfectly cut stamp on a reall Jerry’s Nugget (or Golden Nugget from this era)

    Real stamp

    Real stamp – Different edges of perforation


    Totally badly cut stamp, but real one

    Totally badly cut stamp, but real one


    Left is straight, right is perforated, it's the real McCoy !

    Left is straight, right is perforated, it’s the real McCoy !

    Real ones : Not the same perforations on each edge of the stamp
    Fake 1 : Good
    Fake 2 : Good
    Fake 3 : Good
    Fake 4 : Good
    Green : Good
    Chicken : Perfect

    ♥ : helps spot sealed decks

  • 24 - Only one way to open the box

    Real decks can only be opened from the top. Some other fakes can be opened from the top and the bottom.

    Some boxes opens both ways, not the real ones

    Some boxes opens both ways, not the real ones

    Real ones : Only at the top
    Fake 1 : Only at the top
    Fake 2 : Top and bottom
    Fake 3 : Only at the top
    Fake 4 : Only at the top
    Green : ?
    Chicken : Top and bottom

    ♥ : helps spot sealed decks

Of course, you can ask an expert to check photos or even cards.

When an expert touches a deck, he can immediately say if it’s the real stuff or a fake. Real cards cannot be reproduced, they are unique.

With photos, it’s also quite easy for an expert to find if the deck is real or not too.