Not what but why? Counterfeit Seated halves.

[Kevo_DFX]

Hi All.

I've been working the same site for a a few months now. It does not produce a lot of finds, but everything that comes out of the ground is period. It was probably active around 1800 until about 1870. I've found three large cents there, and a fatty Indian. Those have been the only coins until these popped out of the ground, a month apart and 25 yards away from each other.



The one on the left is largely intact and is a 1847 O Seated Half.
The one on the right is an 184? O seated half.

I think it is likely the broken one is also a 47. They are made of some base metal like pewter. That would mean two matching seated halves have come from a field that produced no silver.

Why would this happen?

 

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[Rowdy Yates]

It was common during that time for prostitutes to give out counterfeit coins to their johns as change.

 

[duggap]

I once found five counterfeit half dollars and the two piece mold they were made in. In my case, we felt sure they were made and lost by one of the old Ft. Oglethorpe soldiers. Mine were dated 1893. Back then that would have represented a fairly nice raise for some soldier.

 

[aa battery]

interesting

 

[kingskid1611]

Interesting Indeed!