Counterfeit Detection: 1878-CC Seated Liberty Half Dollar

NGC - This crude fake is a good opportunity to review common authentication questions.

For the Carson City Mint, 1878 was a watershed year. Minting of dimes, quarters and half dollars ceased there for good, as there was little use at the time for more of these coins. The declining price of silver had prompted people who had been hoarding these denominations to return them to circulation.

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The mintage for the 1878-CC Half Dollar was a mere 62,000, making it a Key date in the series. Even lightly circulated examples can be worth thousands of dollars.

Recently, this purported example of an 1878-CC Half Dollar was submitted to NGC. It has a number of problems, providing a good opportunity to review your authentication abilities.


Counterfeit 1878 CC Half Dollar

First, it's always a good idea to check the coin's weight. This coin is 12.25 grams, which is 0.25 grams (or 2 percent) below what is expected. This doesn't necessarily mean the coin is a fake, because US Mint Tolerances and wear due to circulation could explain the difference. It does raise concern, however.

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