Drastically Underweight 1971 Half Dollar- Thoughts?

I don't think I have a picture saved on this computer (I'm at work right now) of the half, but here is one of my counterfeit 2004 nickel. Obviously it's worth it to someone to make these things.


I'll fire up the camera, scale, and XRF scanner when I get home and post some definitive numbers on the half I own. If the weight matches up that's a start to determine what you actually have.

Here is a quick test too, Have you tried to see if it's magnetic? All of my modern counterfeits are magnetic.

Thanks for the picture. Unfortunately my own half dollar is so damaged that it's impossible to compare it detail-by-detail to a genuine piece; however, that might very well be the intention! The design itself looks like any other half dollar, but it's the metal the coin is composed of that really has me puzzled. It does not look like copper-nickel clad at all.

Sounds good; thank you for your time.

Oh, and in response to your last question, the coin is not attracted to a magnet. I had actually not thought of that test yet, so thank you very much for the suggestion.




Thanks for the suggestion. I have tried doing all sorts of things to see what kind of sound it makes, including dropping it on a hard surface, banging it against other half dollars, etc. When dropped by itself, it sounds almost exactly like a clad coin. When dropped on top of another half dollar, it makes a hollow-sounding "ping" noise.

Thank you for the additional pictures.

The coin looks to be a counterfeit that was plated at some point in the past and the plating is now wearing off in some areas.

Are the obverse and reverse lined up and in coin or medal orientation when you flip it over? (counterfeit or Magicians coin)

Is the coin magnetic?

Does the coin make a hollow thud when you bounce it ( Magicians coin)

If the coin were real the edge shot of the reeding would make it a partial collar strike. Is the reeded portion on the obverse side of the coin or the reverse?

Sorry jack jeckel, I don't have any examples to weigh. I just found the dimensions and went from there (although, your stone evidence also dispels that notion, just in the other direction). I am interested though, that your real life examples weigh less. The weight I found could be applied to 2014 quarters and I'm left wondering about the 1971 alloy.