need help is this real?

[JIMMY555]

Please help id this half dollar. Would like the history about this coin if anyone can help. Thanks

 

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[CRUSADER]

Looks the real deal to me - sad piece of history but history none the less. Maybe we could learn from this

 

[kuger]

could be held as valuable to collectors of such lore.

 

[Silver Searcher]

Nice find it looks as if the triple Ks were put on at a later date, the inscription around the coin is way cleaner in terms of the writing, the Ks look much cruder

SS

 

[Iron Patch]

Cool find it is! And obviously an authentic coin or it would be stated in the auction as counterfeit.

Well it was good enough to go to auction! (I erased my other posts which didn't help)

ENGRAVED KKK HALF DOLLAR FOB. 1866 U. S. silver half dollar. An oblong hole has been made at the top for use as a watch fob, the reverse has
been planed down and engraved, as follows: "K.K.K. Nathan B. Forrest Grand ŒWizard." Forrest, "The Wizard of the Saddle" and the South's most feared cavalry general, is credited (or 'discredited' depending on your point
of view) with forming the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan in 1866. This piece may have been made at this time to commemorate the event.

You need to find a member, or register yourself to see what it sold for! (5 bidders) As a member to the site, not to the KKK!

http://historical.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=1083&Lot_No=241

 

[daroofa]

Cool find it is! And obviously an authentic coin or it would be stated in the auction as counterfeit.

Well it was good enough to go to auction! (I erased my other posts which didn't help)

ENGRAVED KKK HALF DOLLAR FOB. 1866 U. S. silver half dollar. An oblong hole has been made at the top for use as a watch fob, the reverse has
been planed down and engraved, as follows: "K.K.K. Nathan B. Forrest Grand ŒWizard." Forrest, "The Wizard of the Saddle" and the South's most feared cavalry general, is credited (or 'discredited' depending on your point
of view) with forming the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan in 1866. This piece may have been made at this time to commemorate the event.

You need to find a member, or register yourself to see what it sold for! (5 bidders) As a member to the site, not to the KKK!

http://historical.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=1083&Lot_No=241

"This piece may have been made at this time to commemorate the event." Or it may have been made 50 years ago. Forrest didn't form the KKK either. He joined early on but it was already in place when he did. Still an interesting find.

 

[Iron Patch]

Cool find it is! And obviously an authentic coin or it would be stated in the auction as counterfeit.

Well it was good enough to go to auction! (I erased my other posts which didn't help)

ENGRAVED KKK HALF DOLLAR FOB. 1866 U. S. silver half dollar. An oblong hole has been made at the top for use as a watch fob, the reverse has
been planed down and engraved, as follows: "K.K.K. Nathan B. Forrest Grand ŒWizard." Forrest, "The Wizard of the Saddle" and the South's most feared cavalry general, is credited (or 'discredited' depending on your point
of view) with forming the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan in 1866. This piece may have been made at this time to commemorate the event.

You need to find a member, or register yourself to see what it sold for! (5 bidders) As a member to the site, not to the KKK!

http://historical.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=1083&Lot_No=241

"This piece may have been made at this time to commemorate the event." Or it may have been made 50 years ago. Forrest didn't form the KKK either. He joined early on but it was already in place when he did. Still an interesting find.

Oh there's definitely more questions to this, but it seems like enough to not call it a piece of modern junk. Even if it was made in 1966 it's still a neat find.

Seems like even the Historians have some questions too.


"Early on, Forrest became a member of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK). Civil War historian, author and Forrest biographer Brian Steel Wills writes, “While there is no doubt that Forrest joined the Klan, there is some question as to whether he actually was the Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan"

 

[kuger]

Good work I.P.,so this wasnt a one time deal....or a "Love Token".I would have never guessed!!

 

[Iron Patch]

Good work I.P.,so this wasnt a one time deal....a "Love Token".I would have never guessed!!

No, what it reminds me of is the Shriner's medals and fobs made to commemorate their events. I also question when it was made, but maybe there's someone out there who can say, or at least provide an educated guess.

 

[kuger]

May I ask the poster,"was this dug"?What is some history of it as you know??

 

[daroofa]

Cool find it is! And obviously an authentic coin or it would be stated in the auction as counterfeit.

Well it was good enough to go to auction! (I erased my other posts which didn't help)

ENGRAVED KKK HALF DOLLAR FOB. 1866 U. S. silver half dollar. An oblong hole has been made at the top for use as a watch fob, the reverse has
been planed down and engraved, as follows: "K.K.K. Nathan B. Forrest Grand ŒWizard." Forrest, "The Wizard of the Saddle" and the South's most feared cavalry general, is credited (or 'discredited' depending on your point
of view) with forming the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan in 1866. This piece may have been made at this time to commemorate the event.

You need to find a member, or register yourself to see what it sold for! (5 bidders) As a member to the site, not to the KKK!

http://historical.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=1083&Lot_No=241

"This piece may have been made at this time to commemorate the event." Or it may have been made 50 years ago. Forrest didn't form the KKK either. He joined early on but it was already in place when he did. Still an interesting find.

Oh there's definitely more questions to this, but it seems like enough to not call it a piece of modern junk. Even if it was made in 1966 it's still a neat find.

Seems like even the Historians have some questions too.


"Early on, Forrest became a member of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK). Civil War historian, author and Forrest biographer Brian Steel Wills writes, “While there is no doubt that Forrest joined the Klan, there is some question as to whether he actually was the Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan"

Agreed. It definitely wasn't made yesterday. I found a description, but no pic, on a different site dealing in fakes/fantasy stuff. Different year but along the same lines.

"1865 KKK fob on Silver Half Dollar - Fully hand engraved on coin, bold "KKK" center. A recent Fantasy piece. Named to Nathan Bedford Forrest, or John B Lester"

http://www.exonumia.com/fakes.htm

 

[Iron Patch]

Cool find it is! And obviously an authentic coin or it would be stated in the auction as counterfeit.

Well it was good enough to go to auction! (I erased my other posts which didn't help)

ENGRAVED KKK HALF DOLLAR FOB. 1866 U. S. silver half dollar. An oblong hole has been made at the top for use as a watch fob, the reverse has
been planed down and engraved, as follows: "K.K.K. Nathan B. Forrest Grand ŒWizard." Forrest, "The Wizard of the Saddle" and the South's most feared cavalry general, is credited (or 'discredited' depending on your point
of view) with forming the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan in 1866. This piece may have been made at this time to commemorate the event.

You need to find a member, or register yourself to see what it sold for! (5 bidders) As a member to the site, not to the KKK!

http://historical.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=1083&Lot_No=241

"This piece may have been made at this time to commemorate the event." Or it may have been made 50 years ago. Forrest didn't form the KKK either. He joined early on but it was already in place when he did. Still an interesting find.

Oh there's definitely more questions to this, but it seems like enough to not call it a piece of modern junk. Even if it was made in 1966 it's still a neat find.

Seems like even the Historians have some questions too.


"Early on, Forrest became a member of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK). Civil War historian, author and Forrest biographer Brian Steel Wills writes, “While there is no doubt that Forrest joined the Klan, there is some question as to whether he actually was the Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan"

Agreed. It definitely wasn't made yesterday. I found a description, but no pic, on a different site dealing in fakes/fantasy stuff. Different year but along the same lines.

"1865 KKK fob on Silver Half Dollar - Fully hand engraved on coin, bold "KKK" center. A recent Fantasy piece. Named to Nathan Bedford Forrest, or John B Lester"

http://www.exonumia.com/fakes.htm

hmmmmmm That makes me wonder if Heritage auctions didn't try to get away with one and that is why they were very selective about their wording....well maybe that is obvious. (sort of a disclaimer) "Fantasy piece" is two very ugly words in collecting, but to be honest I don't know how old something can be and still be called that. Are there Fantasy CW buckles that date 40-50 years old? Anyone know? I believe fantasy is more based on the item not ever existing in real context than it has to do with age. Still hate that term though!

 

[kuger]

Good ? I.P. There was a House of ill repute here into the 1950's.There is a token featuring that places name that is a "Fantasy"piece,that was made 30 years ago??

 

[Bramblefind]

Just digging around and FWIW these are the word of Capt. John Watson Morton circa 1910 re: events that took place in 1867-

 

[Iron Patch]

Good ? I.P. There was a House of ill repute here into the 1950's.There is a token featuring that places name that is a "Fantasy"piece,that was made 30 years ago??

I have only had one very brief conversation where fantasy pieces came up and I can't remember much of it, but for some reason left me thinking fantasy buckles have been around for many years. What I was doing was trying to figure out if a CW colllection was too good to be true, and it sure was. Some of the buckles didn't even exist, on being from FL. That's where the Fantasy part of the conversation came up. The weird part is the guy who had the collection I thought was for real, and even did some name dropping, but the person I was talking to was Juno and he said they were crap.

 

[Iron Patch]

Just digging around and FWIW these are the word of Cap. John Watson Morton circa 1910 re: events that took place in 1867-

Well maybe there's a certain historian you should contact. Damn they have nothing over us T-netters! (and our Google capability)

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I agree 60's-70's fantasy piece.

 

[exonumia]

Re: need help is this real? -- NO, this KKK item is TOTALLY BOGUS

This is a MODERN FANTASY ITEM of ZERO VALUE: K.K.K. Nathan B. Forrest

First, it is NOT on a Half-Dollar, it is a CAST COUNTERFEIT. The SIZE of the "KKK" piece is NOT the correct size for a USA Half Dollar

Second, it is a VERY WELL KNOWN FANTASY item, as listed and reported on my web site, AND so noted in these posts: http://www.exonumia.com/fakes.htm (where, I'm sorry to say, it says it is silver: it is NOT silver)

Third, NOT silver, but pot metal.

Fourth: Listed in the Book on these fakes:
FAKE CONFEDERATE ID DISKS, Bertram. Fake/fantasy ID disks examined, photographed, info. Soft-Bound 2002, 16p. Historical Notes, $5.00
Which I stock on my web site at http://www.exonumia.com/books.htm

It was MADE YESTERDAY (well, not literally, but it was made in the last few years). LOTS of these have shown up over the past few years, with various names, and always with a great story.

SUMMARY: JUNK of NO VALUE

BTW, the fact it sold for $273 by Heritage is additional proof it is bogus. A genuine item of such vintage would bring at least another digit in value! Heritage sold a bogus item, too bad they don't have Harvey Gamer on staff anymore.

Rich Hartzog www.exonumia.com
Life Member ANA, TAMS, CWTS, CSNS, IL-NA
Full Time dealer in exonumia since 1972

 

[daroofa]

Well that clears that up...thanks for the excellent information.

 

[Iron Patch]

Re: need help is this real? -- NO, this KKK item is TOTALLY BOGUS

This is a MODERN FANTASY ITEM of ZERO VALUE: K.K.K. Nathan B. Forrest

First, it is NOT on a Half-Dollar, it is a CAST COUNTERFEIT. The SIZE of the "KKK" piece is NOT the correct size for a USA Half Dollar

Second, it is a VERY WELL KNOWN FANTASY item, as listed and reported on my web site, AND so noted in these posts: http://www.exonumia.com/fakes.htm (where, I'm sorry to say, it says it is silver: it is NOT silver)

Third, NOT silver, but pot metal.

Fourth: Listed in the Book on these fakes:
FAKE CONFEDERATE ID DISKS, Bertram. Fake/fantasy ID disks examined, photographed, info. Soft-Bound 2002, 16p. Historical Notes, $5.00
Which I stock on my web site at http://www.exonumia.com/books.htm

It was MADE YESTERDAY (well, not literally, but it was made in the last few years). LOTS of these have shown up over the past few years, with various names, and always with a great story.

SUMMARY: JUNK of NO VALUE

BTW, the fact it sold for $273 by Heritage is additional proof it is bogus. A genuine item of such vintage would bring at least another digit in value! Heritage sold a bogus item, too bad they don't have Harvey Gamer on staff anymore.

Rich Hartzog www.exonumia.com
Life Member ANA, TAMS, CWTS, CSNS, IL-NA
Full Time dealer in exonumia since 1972

Great info.! And not too much of a surprise.... really hate the term "Fantasy"

Hey, you might be the person to ask about the stamp on this? No listing in Brunk as far as I can see.

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,336317.0.html

PS... I actually emailed you about the Brunk book a couple of years ago but was sold out. I was able to find a copy elsewhere.