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My First Gold: 1914 Half Eagle

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First Page  Showing last 15 replies.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
36905 Posts
 Posted 02/02/2017  3:09 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add IndianGoldEagle to your friends list
The coin does not look genuine to me. Sharper photos might help in determining if it is fake.
Pillar of the Community
United States
3478 Posts
 Posted 02/02/2017  3:21 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add nfine to your friends list
What do you see that looks off, IndianGoldEagle? I've just started looking at these and would appreciate learning your concerns.

Nick
Bedrock of the Community
United States
10982 Posts
 Posted 02/02/2017  4:27 pm  Show Profile   Check BH1964's eBay Listings Bookmark this reply Add BH1964 to your friends list
I agree it appears to be questionable. A lot of the "detail" is soft and mushy. The reverse looks doubled/tooled in some areas the obverse is very soft at the base of the Indians neck. The lettering seems to be odd as well.

What does it and what is the diameter?
ANA #R3154474
Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts
 Posted 02/02/2017  4:35 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Coinfrog to your friends list
Agree obverse detail very weak and mushy compared to reverse.
Edited by Coinfrog
02/02/2017 7:42 pm
Pillar of the Community
United States
3210 Posts
 Posted 02/02/2017  4:55 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Imthealphaomega to your friends list
Agree looks off. Bottom feather very soft and worn while reverse feathers are sharp and detailed....wear doesn't happen that way
Pillar of the Community
United States
2589 Posts
 Posted 02/02/2017  6:45 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add XavierOfGreen to your friends list
In regards to the odd wear pattern, its common to find these as ex-jewelry pieces. Often times the reverse is protected, while the obverse is exposed and as a result has more wear. I don't know enough to say whether or not its Counterfeit, but I have encountered Counterfeit Indian Head gold coins in the past that were made of gold. Often the gold Counterfeits are actually a higher percentage gold than the geniume issues are.
Pillar of the Community
United States
2563 Posts
 Posted 02/02/2017  7:38 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add CoinCollector2000 to your friends list
It might have been tooled and/or cleaned. It could be fake all together. Not the coin I would have went after tbh.
Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts
 Posted 02/02/2017  7:45 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Coinfrog to your friends list
@Xavier - Good point, but I would think the reverse would show more wear rubbing against the chest than the obverse.
Pillar of the Community
United States
1499 Posts
 Posted 02/03/2017  09:54 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add billjones to your friends list
I agree with the others. Given the amount of detail, wear is not a huge issue. The lack of sharpness, especially on the obverse, and the "busy" reverse fields make me very suspicious of this coin. I don't think that it is genuine.

My rule of thumb to most collectors is buy certified gold. Why take the chance?

I know this piece is high grade, but compare the level of detail in the protected areas. Even a circulated genuine piece has sharp devices.

My-First-Gold:-1914-Half-Eagle My-First-Gold:-1914-Half-Eagle
Bedrock of the Community
United States
36905 Posts
 Posted 02/03/2017  10:57 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add IndianGoldEagle to your friends list
Having Bill's photo helps to compare the feather detail on the eagle. The OP coin does not match. Very mushy detail on the Indian. Most likely a Lebanese fake from the 1960's-70's.
Valued Member
Italy
78 Posts
 Posted 02/03/2017  2:43 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Burkhard to your friends list
"Certified" is almost impossible to obtain here, and since the coin was purchased at melt value, I've take the chanche. Weight is correct for this denomination and the metal is gold. Plus, 1914 is not a key date and I think is normal to buy at melt (maybe I'm wrong?) or with a very small premium.

Sorry the pics are not the best, they were made with my phone.
Valued Member
Italy
78 Posts
 Posted 02/03/2017  2:47 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Burkhard to your friends list
BTW thank you all for the replies!

OT: can I change the discussion title to "My First Fake Gold"?
Valued Member
United States
304 Posts
 Posted 02/03/2017  8:25 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add MorganGuy78 to your friends list
Look where the head is. It looks funny.
Pillar of the Community
United States
2589 Posts
 Posted 02/03/2017  8:30 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add XavierOfGreen to your friends list
In the USA these always sell at a premium over melt value unless they are heavily damaged. As I said before, there are a number of struck gold Counterfeits of the Indian head issue. Many were made during the American ban of private ownership of gold, since there were exceptions for owning examples of gold collectable coins. Thus the Counterfeits skirted the ban in appearance and allowed individuals to invest in gold without much suspiscion from the authorities.
Valued Member
United States
484 Posts
 Posted 02/03/2017  8:55 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add smalldawg59 to your friends list
Cleaned, AU details.
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