Two Large Cents stamped with CSA 1861, are they something from Civil War?

[RiverRat3]

Hello, thanks for reading. I actually found both these coins on Ebay. I noticed the coins had been stamped with CSA 1861 on the back of the coin. The one large cent is dated 1855 and the other is to badly worn. Thinking the CSA meant Confederate States of America I immediately made the bid. The seller stated he had found them in a old stone tool shed in Virginia. I also noticed a bunch of punch marks on the head side of the coin. Any help would be appreciated. I would have loved to have found these metal detecting.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Minelab PRO-FIND 35 Waterproof Pinpointer Metal Detector for Experts with Tone ID & Adjustable Sensitivity - Grab it through Amazon!

[johnnyi]

Great eye and buy! Ruleau doesn't list these, however he may know something about them (you can contact him via Krause publications). Although they are probably unique, you may be able at some point to identify the age of the dies used by their size and shape.

 

[RiverRat3]

Thanks "Johnnyi" for the help, I am wondering what they may have been used for...

 

[BuckleBoy]

I smell a rat--and not the good, "river kind."

 

[johnnyi]

Buckeboy, thanks for the wakeup call (in another life I traded my cow for some magic beans...) Yes, I think I see a little of the rat too, in the shape of fairly shiny depressions at the depth of the punches. These should be well soiled and dark.

 

[RiverRat3]

Buckeboy, thanks for the wakeup call (in another life I traded my cow for some magic beans...) Yes, I think I see a little of the rat too, in the shape of fairly shiny depressions at the depth of the punches. These should be well soiled and dark.

Sorry if I am mis understood but are you guys calling me a fake or the guy who sold it to me from Ebay. I dont know much about Civil War relics and I could not find out anything else from books or the internet.

 

[baspinall]

I believe they are saying the Ebay guy faked them.

Brian

 

[72cheyenne]

I believe they are saying the Ebay guy faked them.

Brian

That's the way I interpreted BB and johnny also. I don't believe they would be calling you or any other poster a rat, but were only saying that the coins look "suspicious".

 

[RiverRat3]

I believe they are saying the Ebay guy faked them.

Brian

Thanks for the reply. I guess its how you read it. Atleast it was only $10.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Could we have the link or the name of the seller? They almost look shiny or cleaned. Do you think they are punched from original large cents? The fonts look modern.

 

[johnnyi]

Riverrat, Ha! no, I was referring to the coins, not to you! You are a fine river rat! The coins are another species of rat altogether.

 

[BuckleBoy]

I believe they are saying the Ebay guy faked them.

Brian

Absolutely.

 

[RiverRat3]

Riverrat, Ha! no, I was referring to the coins, not to you! You are a fine river rat! The coins are another species of rat altogether.

Thanks, sorry about that. I thought I may have had something from Ebay. I guess since there was only 2 bidders that should have explained it. I will copy and paste what the seller wrote later today.

 

[stefen]

There seems to be a preponderance of people who post their purchases on TN to see if something they purchased is the real thing (and at times have purchased an item not knowing exactly what it was).

Would it not make sense to do the research in advance of making a winning bid?

 

[RiverRat3]

There seems to be a preponderance of people who post their purchases on TN to see if something they purchased is the real thing (and at times have purchased an item not knowing exactly what it was).

Would it not make sense to do the research in advance of making a winning bid?

Yes it would but I had already made my mind up that I was going to purchase the item. Since I collect coins the one thing I new it was atleast a real 1855 Large Cent. I dont think the seller new the item was authentic either. The seller had over a 1000 sells with 100% feedback. I guess I took a chance and lost...

 

[RiverRat3]

Below is what I copied and pasted from the actual Ebay listing. The description is what sold me.....

"These are from a family member, they were found in an old tool shed in Charlottsville, Va. (Dice St.) some time ago. One is dated 1855 and looks like it was used for target practice by someone. The other is very worn but I see part of "America" on one side and I think it is a large cent also (but no date). They are stamped "CSA 1861", the letters and numbers look almost identical to me - the 1855 coins stamping looks rather jumbled. I have no idea if these have any value or not, if anyone knows any history about them I would love to know it."

Thanks to everyone for reading and posting their comments...

 

[cedarratt]

The Letters and Numbers have the wrong font for that time period. The older Stamp sets from then have more script like lettering those look modern like tooling.

 

[Woodland Detectors]

<---------Looks sketchie

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Yes it would but I had already made my mind up that I was going to purchase the item. Since I collect coins the one thing I new it was atleast a real 1855 Large Cent. I dont think the seller new the item was authentic either. The seller had over a 1000 sells with 100% feedback. I guess I took a chance and lost...

The feedback is good so maybe he didnt know they were fake. I can understand you taking a chance for a few bucks. Sometimes you dont want anybody else to know. You are hoping a valuable piece will go unnoticed. This is a good way for him to ruin his perfect rating but maybe he will refund the money if not satisfied.

 

[Roger Mn.]

I don't know what they are and there is always someone out there that will give you more than what you paid for them.