Coin guys, is this real?

[Older The Better]

My mom had this in some coins she had saved, it caught my eye, I thought it could be a colonial coin so I took it home to look up, so far everything I find says that there is only one real one known to exist, but I’m not sure if I’m missing something.

What do you guys think? Is it real? Counterfeit? Any info is appreciated.

 

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[osage express]

Look on ebay for a pine tree key chain .

 

[Red-Coat]

I don't know whether this is a novelty item as @osage express suggests, or a collectable souvenir, or an intentional fake but - even without close examination - there's one obvious thing that gives it away as non-authentic.

There is only one known example of this coin, held by the Massachusetts Historical Society. It has the letters ‘1d LM’ across the trunk of the pine tree… standing for ‘One Penny Lawful Money’. The letter ‘d’ was the British designation for a penny, from it’s historical origins of the Roman ‘denarius’.

The ‘d’ on the one known example is deformed such that it looks a bit like a letter ‘c’ and has been widely reported as ‘1c LN’ since the 1870s, with the equally mistaken interpretation that it stands for ‘cent’… which it isn’t and doesn’t.

Consequently, many of the ‘reproductions’ kicking around (which are standalone creations, not cast from the original known example) erroneously have the letter as ‘c’ rather than ‘d’. Like yours.

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

I don't know whether this is a novelty item as @osage express suggests, or a collectable souvenir, or an intentional fake but - even without close examination - there's one obvious thing that gives it away as non-authentic.

There is only one known example of this coin, held by the Massachusetts Historical Society. It has the letters ‘1d LM’ across the trunk of the pine tree… standing for ‘One Penny Lawful Money’. The letter ‘d’ was the British designation for a penny, from it’s historical origins of the Roman ‘denarius’.

The ‘d’ on the one known example is deformed such that it looks a bit like a letter ‘c’ and has been widely reported as ‘1c LN’ since the 1870s, with the equally mistaken interpretation that it stands for ‘cent’… which it isn’t and doesn’t.

Consequently, many of the ‘reproductions’ kicking around (which are standalone creations, not cast from the original known example) erroneously have the letter as ‘c’ rather than ‘d’. Like yours.

Amazing background information my friend.
Your depth of knowledge on so many varied items never ceases to impress.


As far as your Mom's coin goes OTB... the details on your coins face and reverse look to have been cast very crude and thick.
So, my thought would be a reproduction as opposed to an actual counterfeit intended for circulation.

Dave

 

[Older The Better]

Thanks that’s kind of where I was going too, I just wasn’t sure if I was missing something, like there was only one COPPER penny but lots made from another material, or I don’t have a copper PENNY I have a copper ____. In my limited experience one tiny detail can make a massive difference in the rarity of a coin.

 

[BigWaveDave]

https://www.masshist.org/database/593

Pretty cool.

 

[A2coins]

Well thats not the news I was hoping for!!!! That rainbow disappeared pretty quick.Good to ask that would have been something to be the 2nd coin known to exist. Next time.....

 

[Bramblefind]

I've actually handled the real one. A stunning colonial coin! Your piece is not real but I hope you enjoyed learning a little about this amazing coin

 

[Red-Coat]

I've actually handled the real one. A stunning colonial coin! Your piece is not real but I hope you enjoyed learning a little about this amazing coin

Fantastic.

Note the deformed 'd' in '1d' which led to it being misinterpreted as '1c'

 

[Older The Better]

I've actually handled the real one. A stunning colonial coin! Your piece is not real but I hope you enjoyed learning a little about this amazing coin

I did, that’s half the fun of finding an object for me. Usually it’s with a metal detector but putting a story and a little bit of history with an item completes the experience. I don’t mind it being fake it’s still kind of cool, and now I know I don’t have to have her put it under lock and key.