Counterfeit Detection: 1796 Large Cent S-85 Struck Counterfeit

Jack Young - This article is intended as a continuing summary of the deceptive struck counterfeits documented to date, including the damaged "source" coin, the example most likely repaired and used to create the dies to strike the other copies; this source was unknown when we became aware of the first several copies offered for sale on the internet in 2015. This "variety" was included in my original article for CoinWeek-"From The Brink To The Dark Side" (published May 8, 2017)-and identified as a 1796 "S-85" large cent. The probable repaired source example was not encapsulated by the TPG who graded it "ALTERED SURFACE, PLUGGED.


Damaged Source, Probable Repaired Source, August 2016 internet example

This "variety" was first known from a single example discovered on the internet by a fellow Early American Copper (EAC) member back in 2015 (Penny-Wise, Jan 2016 article); from in-hand observation, it was correctly called a counterfeit, while the execution of coining this example and the lack of major differences in the details compared to a genuine one make that determination more difficult until other examples are discovered. And of course, others were discovered in many different venues as we became sensitive to these and began the search!

And after the damaged source was found it became apparent why the details matched a genuine specimen so closely. In hindsight, it is much easier to find other existing examples after seeing the damaged and repaired area of the source. In this case, the hole obliterated some of the hair detail and had to be engraved by hand during the repairs, a good comparison point along with the common sister marks that seem to just "pop out" as more examples are discovered and compared (example, the "broken A" crossbar common to all of the copies but not of the source; I hadn't noticed it until I started this summary).


Kevin's "Discovery" Example (L); ALTERED SURFACE, PLUGGED Example (R)

The interesting point to note in this comparison is that the "discovery" coin carries the same main sister marks of the probable repaired source on the right. But the dentils on the obverse have been strengthened or engraved entirely, and the letters of "STATES OF" are equally treated as well, making them more defined than any of the other documented examples. As previously discussed, a timeline proved helpful in trying to piece together the history of these.

Note: the shape of the last "S" in STATES of Kevin's example was noted as differing from a known genuine one, and also appears different than the other documented counterfeit examples.


Probable Repaired Source Genuine Example (Courtesy PCGS)

"Obvious" after seeing the damaged example - hair re-engraved over the repaired area.

Timeline for the 1796 "S-85" Large Cent:


Comparison images of the author's example (the only one documented to be in a TPG holder) and the last internet example documented to date:


Author's TPG-holdered Example (L); Internet Example (R)

As the others we have been discussing in this forum, these have proven to be very deceptive in the marketplace, although several examples have lately been rejected by the TPGs. The last documented example sold "raw", with the original listing terminated by the internet venue, but unfortunately, the "seller" name was changed, and the "coin" was relisted and sold on the second try. The hope is we are turning the tide on these through documentation and communication throughout the hobby as a whole, but have a lot of work to do to that end.


Probable Repaired Source Internet Listing (July, 2016) terminated as a possible counterfeit

"Family" Portrait and Attribution Page:



More attribution pages are in process; the focused Team of watchers and researchers on our Facebook page the "Dark Side" continues to be vigilant in the documentation and communication of these latest deceptive threats to our hobby!

As always, the research continues to be a collaborative effort with many EAC members and friends participating.

Read More: Counterfeit Detection Series

Check out 1796 Draped Bust Large Cents on ebay.