✅ SOLVED Fake Irish half penny?

[HAPPYCAMPER]

Found recently here in central Mass.,other coins were a KG and and 1802 large cent.Think it a counterfeit half penny as dont think weight is right,my scale does grams but only whole grams and bounces between 6 and 7 grams...is about 27 mm...on back nothing was visible so took some 2k grit wet sandpaper and details appeared..any thoughts?

 

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[ironhorse]

what detail remains suggests your thoughts of having a counterfeit are probably true



there are better ways finding details on coins than resorting to sand paper, I'm sure some other members will suggest something less damaging and just as effective

 

[HAPPYCAMPER]

Agree on sandpaper.....as the back was about totally smooth didnt think 2000 grit paper too abrasive,and dont think I would have attempted to clean otherwise as was smooth and could have sworn nothing there.Is first time i have tried sandpaper and though probably not best method might try on a few of the pile of smooth ones i got to see if any detail highlights.

what detail remains suggests your thoughts of having a counterfeit are probably true



there are better ways finding details on coins than resorting to sand paper, I'm sure some other members will suggest something less damaging and just as effective

 

[ironhorse]

in some cases of counterfeits, the strike was weak to begin with and was probably so on purpose, the off centre strike on the reverse and resulting rim was a bit of a red flag on whether it was a regal issue or not

as for the sand paper, if there's absolutely nothing to possibly identify the green disc, in the end anyone can do anything they want to their finds to reveal the former identity of the coin; sand away, you could be pleasantly surprised by what it can reveal( yours is a good example of what can hide under corrosion)
some people rock tumble their finds, another last resort in my view, but again if you don't care about it, give it a shot
the only thing I could say is, if you find that you just uncovered a high$$$ coin or token by sanding it and ruined its value otherwise, that would hurt

 

[HAPPYCAMPER]

Would never attempt on a coin I didnt have a an idea what it was,this one here I was fairly certain not a valuable coin...the soil here in Mass isnt nice to the old coppers and probably have more that are toasted than ones I can see detail..

in some cases of counterfeits, the strike was weak to begin with and was probably so on purpose, the off centre strike on the reverse and resulting rim was a bit of a red flag on whether it was a regal issue or not

as for the sand paper, if there's absolutely nothing to possibly identify the green disc, in the end anyone can do anything they want to their finds to reveal the former identity of the coin; sand away, you could be pleasantly surprised by what it can reveal( yours is a good example of what can hide under corrosion)
some people rock tumble their finds, another last resort in my view, but again if you don't care about it, give it a shot
the only thing I could say is, if you find that you just uncovered a high$$$ coin or token by sanding it and ruined its value otherwise, that would hurt