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 Replies: 12 / Views: 1,585 |
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Valued Member
United States
190 Posts |
I have an 1803 Half Cent in VF condition that has been cleaned. It appears to have a spiked chin similar to the one found on the 1804 Half Cent. I decided to check the coin using the Missouri Cabinet Collection online as my reference to determine its die variety. I checked it against all known 1803 Half Cents in the collection, and came up with a new variety. The coin has some odd things going on with it not found on other 1803 Half Cent varieties. The leaf found at D in UNITED is Past Center, and all other 1803 Half Cent Varieties are between Left and Nearly Center. The chin is spiked, and there is another spike coming out of the mouth similar to a few 1804 Half Cent varieties. The reverse seems to match with either C6 or C7 of 1804. The 3 appears to be punched over a crosslet 4. The strongest evidence of this is above the 3, but even the crosslet can be faintly seen to the right of the 3. From general appearance this coin looks to be authentic to me, but there are several tiny perfect circles around the date that might indicate that this is a copy or counterfeit coin. I believe it to be a new variety or one that is known, but not listed in the Missouri Cabinet Collection. Could a few U.S. Copper Coinage experts please take a look at my photos and tell me what you think. Is this a new variety? Is it one that already is known to exist? Is this a electro-copy of some kind from the 1890's? Is this a new age Chinese copy that is better than anything I have ever seen?     Edited by pasasap
07/01/2015 6:57 pm
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Valued Member
 United States
190 Posts |
One of the tiny perfect circles can be seen clearly above the space between the 1 and 8 in the date.
I also notice the coin has been filed along its edge, so I am now thinking this is a Chinese copy coin (counterfeit).
Edited by pasasap
07/01/2015 7:13 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
4911 Posts |
I don't like the look of it, I am no expert on these but IMO they made a die from a spike 1804 variety and then tried to put a 3 over the 4 because they wanted to make 1803s.
Feel free to call me Will.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
4911 Posts |
the shape of the 3 is highly suspect aswell.
Feel free to call me Will.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1304 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7375 Posts |
I hate to suggest it might not be real. The reverse looks a bit mushy. I checked the 4 known varieties I found, and you are right, it doesn't match any of them.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3165 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1304 Posts |
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Valued Member
United States
190 Posts |
I agree that it is a Chinese Counterfeit. I was all excited until I seen the tiny perfect circles, which are often found on fakes, and then noticed the edges were filed. The link showing the Chinese fake was helpful. The fraction is way too large, and my coin matches the counterfeit perfectly. Unfortunately, I am a victim of a poor photo. I normally spot these before I buy, and contact the seller to remove them. The seller will be refunding my money or facing both a criminal and small claims lawsuit. It is a Federal Crime to distribute (sell) counterfeit U.S. coinage even if the coin is obsolete. I am also going to make sure the coin is never sold as authentic again. Thanks.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1812 Posts |
I never seen a "3" look like this... Not sure if it is tool marks or a counterfeit...  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1304 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6370 Posts |
A one-to-one die transfer from a genuine 1804 spiked chin Half Cent which has subsequently been altered to have the rarer 1803 date. Note the remnants of the 4 underneath the 3. The link EFLargeCents posted tells the rest of the story. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
TypeCoin971793 has nailed it.
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Replies: 12 / Views: 1,585 |
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Posted 07/01/2015 7:16 pm
