1803 Gold half-Eagle, an exceptional counterfeit

[Scrappy]

I dug this coin and didn’t think anything of it at first. I chalked it up as a counterfeit since it was crusted, and me and my group often find counterfeits. However, having been dug from a site that burned down 200 years ago, could have just been damaged and encrusted in shite? It was found smashed between foundation rubble and ash. With a little lemon juice it cleaned up nicely. I figure that’s either because of residual gold wash in the case of a counterfeit, or a fire damaged real deal. I checked it against the (red book) and I couldn’t find differences often found in contemporary counterfeits.

Two things trouble me. The edge seems to be missing and is not reeded, and the diameter is only 24mm but varies slightly. It should be 25mm. The weight is low at 7-ish grams and bounces to 8 grams, but I don’t have a scale accurate down to the hundredth, but it should be 8.75.
View attachment 2070069


Ive seen a lot of amazing and complicated things come out of the ground but this one has me stumped. I tried to zoom in on the date but I’m unsure if I can see a 3-over-2 variety since there’s no normal-strike 1803. Either way, counterfeit or real, it’s a find that’ll display nicely in my cabinet.

A little update: turns out it’s not gold, ie. It seems to be a debased counterfeit under 9karats. The planchet is solid, not cored, so it’s as well made as one can come. It’s what I suspected deep down since the color was never quite there. I’ll be getting it analyzed to see the exact content that gives it that shine and weight. Additionally, with the help of PepperJ, it’s been ruled out as a kettle token. But still a mystery

It shines like gold in my cabinet and I’ll call it unique because it was made so masterfully with solid planchet and press. I suspect many of these were able to trick folks. So I’m still without finding gold, but so damn close. Hopefully my luck will put me over one someday, but finds like this I still absolutely enjoy. Thx for looking!

 

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[hampton detector]

I dug this coin and didn’t think anything of it at first.
I chalked it up as a counterfeit since it was crusted, and me and my group often find counterfeits. View attachment 2070063However, having been dug from a site that burned down 200 years ago, could have just been damaged and encrusted in shite? It was found smashed between foundation rubble and ash. With a little lemon juice it cleaned up nicely. View attachment 2070064I figure that’s either because of residual gold wash in the case of a counterfeit, or a fire damaged real deal. I checked it against the (red book) and I couldn’t find differences often found in contemporary counterfeits.

Two things trouble me. The edge seems to be missing and is not reeded, and the diameter is only 24mm but varies slightly. It should be 25mm. View attachment 2070065The weight is low at 7-ish grams and bounces to 8 grams, but I don’t have a scale accurate down to the hundredth, but it should be 8.75.
View attachment 2070066View attachment 2070069


Ive seen a lot of amazing and complicated things come out of the ground but this one has me stumped. I tried to zoom in on the date but I’m unsure if I can see a 3-over-2 variety since there’s no normal-strike 1803. Either way, counterfeit or real, it’s a find that’ll display nicely in my cabinet.

I found a similar coin. It measured about 24mm and seems to be quite thin. After a lot of searching, I determined it to be a kettle token. I didn’t attempt to clean it. Very cool find! Congrats

 

[Scrappy]

I found a similar coin. It measured about 24mm and seems to be quite thin. After a lot of searching, I determined it to be a kettle token. I didn’t attempt to clean it. Very cool find! Congrats

Very neat. The only reason I attempted to clear it was a very obvious gold color under the dirt. This one is about 1.3

I found a similar coin. It measured about 24mm and seems to be quite thin. After a lot of searching, I determined it to be a kettle token. I didn’t attempt to clean it. Very cool find! Congrats

very neat find. This coin is around 1.5mm thick and perhaps weighs more than I think an equivalent sized copper would. I’m no coin guy though, I just like to dig ‘em

 

[river roamer]

Nice find Hope its gold

 

[Steve in PA]

I hope it's the real deal, but a killer find either way

 

[Scrappy]

I hope it's the real deal, but a killer find either way

I’m sure it’s real, it’s just the initial look that made me a skeptic. A friend told me copper would have weighed significantly less

 

[RVRoamer74]

Hoping it turns out to be gold. Congrats!

 

[CRUSADER]

I have to say it looks a bit funky in the picture & not very gold like, but I'll wait to hear from the experts....

 

[ironhorse]

That's a pretty cool find!
Real or not gold from that era is pretty darn rare....even a counterfeit coin makes for a really good story.
Being underweight and the surface doesnt leave much to be desired it doesnt look great but I'm rooting for you to have the real deal.

 

[jewelerguy]

hair at the neckline of her dress doesn't match examples shown on a google image search of real examples. Sorry, I vote that it's not real. But still a cool find

 

[E-Trac-Ohio]

Whatever it turns out to be it's still an excellent find in my book - congrats !

 

[Norwichnut]

I dug this coin and didn’t think anything of it at first.
I chalked it up as a counterfeit since it was crusted, and me and my group often find counterfeits. View attachment 2070063However, having been dug from a site that burned down 200 years ago, could have just been damaged and encrusted in shite? It was found smashed between foundation rubble and ash. With a little lemon juice it cleaned up nicely. View attachment 2070064I figure that’s either because of residual gold wash in the case of a counterfeit, or a fire damaged real deal. I checked it against the (red book) and I couldn’t find differences often found in contemporary counterfeits.

Two things trouble me. The edge seems to be missing and is not reeded, and the diameter is only 24mm but varies slightly. It should be 25mm. The weight is low at 7-ish grams and bounces to 8 grams, but I don’t have a scale accurate down to the hundredth, but it should be 8.75.
View attachment 2070066View attachment 2070072View attachment 2070069


Ive seen a lot of amazing and complicated things come out of the ground but this one has me stumped. I tried to zoom in on the date but I’m unsure if I can see a 3-over-2 variety since there’s no normal-strike 1803. Either way, counterfeit or real, it’s a find that’ll display nicely in my cabinet.

Hope its real...but it doesn't have the high gold content look..

 

[Lenrac2]

Super awesome find either way!! Hope it is real!!

 

[JohnnyMac]

I dug this coin and didn’t think anything of it at first.
I chalked it up as a counterfeit since it was crusted, and me and my group often find counterfeits. View attachment 2070063However, having been dug from a site that burned down 200 years ago, could have just been damaged and encrusted in shite? It was found smashed between foundation rubble and ash. With a little lemon juice it cleaned up nicely. View attachment 2070064I figure that’s either because of residual gold wash in the case of a counterfeit, or a fire damaged real deal. I checked it against the (red book) and I couldn’t find differences often found in contemporary counterfeits.

Two things trouble me. The edge seems to be missing and is not reeded, and the diameter is only 24mm but varies slightly. It should be 25mm. The weight is low at 7-ish grams and bounces to 8 grams, but I don’t have a scale accurate down to the hundredth, but it should be 8.75.
View attachment 2070066View attachment 2070072View attachment 2070069


Ive seen a lot of amazing and complicated things come out of the ground but this one has me stumped. I tried to zoom in on the date but I’m unsure if I can see a 3-over-2 variety since there’s no normal-strike 1803. Either way, counterfeit or real, it’s a find that’ll display nicely in my cabinet.

Gold or not ,, i want one too..lol..Congrats!

 

[smokeythecat]

Take it to a reputable coin dealer who has one of those metal analyzing machines. They'll let you know in 2 minutes flat. But don't sell it to them! Nice find no matter what.

 

[Scrappy]

I have to say it looks a bit funky in the picture & not very gold like, but I'll wait to hear from the experts....

Thx for that Cru. I will say it’s strange

I have to say it looks a bit funky in the picture & not very gold like, but I'll wait to hear from the experts....

Well, you were correct. It was funky but still a fun find

 

[Scrappy]

That's a pretty cool find!
Real or not gold from that era is pretty darn rare....even a counterfeit coin makes for a really good story.
Being underweight and the surface doesnt leave much to be desired it doesnt look great but I'm rooting for you to have the real deal.

Yep, I was tricked by a counterfeit that’d been in the ground for 200 years, which I think is pretty friggin awesome. I wonder though how many circulated undetected?

 

[Scrappy]

Take it to a reputable coin dealer who has one of those metal analyzing machines. They'll let you know in 2 minutes flat. But don't sell it to them! Nice find no matter what.

Thx smokes

 

[Digger RJ]

I dug this coin and didn’t think anything of it at first.
I chalked it up as a counterfeit since it was crusted, and me and my group often find counterfeits. View attachment 2070063However, having been dug from a site that burned down 200 years ago, could have just been damaged and encrusted in shite? It was found smashed between foundation rubble and ash. With a little lemon juice it cleaned up nicely. View attachment 2070064I figure that’s either because of residual gold wash in the case of a counterfeit, or a fire damaged real deal. I checked it against the (red book) and I couldn’t find differences often found in contemporary counterfeits.

Two things trouble me. The edge seems to be missing and is not reeded, and the diameter is only 24mm but varies slightly. It should be 25mm. The weight is low at 7-ish grams and bounces to 8 grams, but I don’t have a scale accurate down to the hundredth, but it should be 8.75.
View attachment 2070066View attachment 2070072View attachment 2070069


Ive seen a lot of amazing and complicated things come out of the ground but this one has me stumped. I tried to zoom in on the date but I’m unsure if I can see a 3-over-2 variety since there’s no normal-strike 1803. Either way, counterfeit or real, it’s a find that’ll display nicely in my cabinet.

A little update: turns out it’s not gold, ie. Under 9karats. The planchet is solid, not cored, so who knows. It’s what I suspected deep down since the color was never quite there. I’ll eventually get is analyzed to see the exact content that gives it that shine and weight. It shines like gold in my cabinet and I’ll call it unique because it was made so masterfully with solid planchet and press. I suspect many of these were able to trick folks. So I’m still without finding gold, but so damn close. Hopefully my luck will put me over one someday, but finds like this I still absolutely enjoy. Thx for looking!

Very Cool !!! Congrats!!!

 

[Blak bart]

Nice coin steve....glad your out hunting and posting....herd you were down hunting with Carolinatom . Congrats on the well made counterfeit gold !!