counterfeits

[bergie]

In past posts I've seen some on the board advise people they may have a counterfeit and it's taken as not possible or some kind of insult to their find. In researching this coin I found today I learned that there were many counterfeits made around the same time and given the condition of most of the coins, it's hardly possible to tell if what you've found is real or fake. However, I think the point is you've still found a really old coin from that period, not something made recently to look old. I think that's the misunderstanding I've seen in these past posts, that the person who found the coin says "no, this is really old and couldn't be fake" when in fact, the fakes are old too and were probably accepted back then as good fake bills are accepted now. I have no way of telling if my coin is real or fake. The diameter matches that of a real one, but I'm not sure that's enough evidence.

 

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[Lowbatts]

If you found it in a rural spot and was a single find then there should be little reason to consider it's authenticity. By definition, counterfeits are made from inferior materials and this does show readily with age in almost any weathering environment over authentic pieces. I have a two cent piece that is blank on one side and while blank planchets are not unknown in the coin world, my example also has some obvious foreign material on the front side that is corroded beyond the rest of the coin, possibly indicating a counterfeit. But then 2 cent pieces were not big targets of counterfeiters, nor were many coins under a dollar's value.

 

[coinshooter]

Yeah, that guy got a little huffy when I suggested his coin "didn't look right". I was just pointing out an obvious visual, but sometimes cameras can change the color of a coin and when posted it may be copper, but look like silver. The coin you mentioned really did look weird to me. The guy kind of took it like I was insulting him, but I was just mentioning something that I saw. 8)

 

[lab rat]

That brings up a not-so-obvious disadvantage to a typewritten format-- no facial expressions or vocal tones to indicate a person's demeanor in communicating!

 

[bergie]

What the hell do you mean by that, LAB RAT, an insult!!!? (I couldn't see your expression or hear your voice, so I didn't know. Ok, not so funny, but I gave it a shot.)

 

[comfyinvermont]

I personally think that the counterfeits are just a cool to find as the real ones. After all, they are probably more rare than the real ones. My brother found a counterfeit seated liberty half dollar. It was copper and probably had a silver or mercury plate on it at one time. It is now one of his prize finds, and I would love to have it. And you are right, it is as old as the original. Its still a great find...Lance

 

[Ocean7]

Lowbatts - yeah I agree with you.

My coin is being professionally graded. So we'll see.

Imagine finding a coin that could be the most valuable coin you ever found. There were 51,065 minted.
It is a rare find and in good condition. You're all excited and post it. First thing out of some people's mouth is - hey that looks fake, painted, cleaned. What would your response be?

Yeah I was huffy after hearing one comment in particular, and wondered how many 1800's silver you've personally seen come out of the ground? If you really doubt the validity of a find, it might help if the positive was stated 1st and then followed up by the doubts - if they exist. That's being positive.

I fully realize that everyone is entitled to their opinion and reality. And I'm sure we all forget that there are real people behind these posts and words.

But I believe....'hey that's totally bogus but if it's real - nice find' does not have the same message and flavor as 'hey what a great find! Congrats but you know that looks a little strange to me...'.

That's why we're all so different - we all see things from our own perspective, experience, and reality.
I'll leave it at that...


p.s. Lance I couldn't agree more!

 

[True_Metal]

I see everyones points and believe nothing was meant in a negative way.

I also agree that sometimes there can be confusion in trying to communicate thru text.

That coin was an excellent find Ocean7, and hopefully i will someday get one like it.

 

[bergie]

Can't ya just feel the love?!!!!!!

 

[southern gent]

I have a counterfeit that nearly choked me up when I found it. US bar copper cent. Found it to be counter., but I still love it. It's made of steel and was copper plated. It turns out that the confederates were notorious for counterfeiting Union money. In good condition it would have been worth quite a bit, as a counter it's worth almost as much. Go figure. HH! Chris

 

[KAA]

I was fooled by some counters a while back.

We did some searching around an old abandoned Texas oil "boomtown" circa early 1900's, we searched around the area where a saloon once stood and turned up 14 old Spanish cobb coins.

Took them to a coin dealer and they turned out to be low grade fakes. I guess some old time hustler felt the need to get rid of them in a hurry.

 

[coinshooter]

So it's a little negative. What's the big deal, all you did was switch one sentence of mine in front of the other. The point is still the same.
I was just pointing out what I noticed first about the coin. You actually took I as an insult to the finder. Relax. If it wasn't for these forums, you might have never even thought about that aspect. 8) Take a chill pill dude.

 

[Ocean7]

hmm right after you take that 'anti-green with envy' pill, dude!

 

[[email protected]]

Experience is the key. I said that I will bet anyone here that Ocean's coin is real. Why? Because I have at least a dozen really old coins that have the exact same spotting from sitting in very wet soil for years. I also said that those heavy built up spots of tarnish won't come off.
It is understandible that not everyone has seen all the variations of dug coins from different soil conditions.
I don't think Ocean 7 is freaked out, just a bit disapointed that a bunch of people were suggesting a fake instead of congrats.
If you guys really want me to, I could post a pic or two of my coins with the same appearance.(I warn you I am lazy with pictures)
Speaking of counterfeits, Canada has some neat blacksmith tokens, that were crude copies of the British coins. These are worth more than the real ones!
Dave.

 

[Ocean7]

thanks, Dave - you've got it exactly!

BTW called the coin graders today. They have coin but said 12 weeks. I upgraded to 5-day service when I heard that tune. Had no idea it'd be that long. Probably have back by end of month.