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Moderator
 United States
16677 Posts |
How can anyone tell when the gold was applied to any of them  It's a 50/50 chance when you buy one weather or not it was taken as a $5 gold piece in the 1880's. It's nice to think it was! swcoin.ecrater.com
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
677 Posts |
Mr. Finger & vermontensium, First off, thanks to replying to my post that isn't getting as much attention as I thought it might.   Apparently not as many people are as fascinated by the "Racketeer Nickel" story as I am. (I hope I am not sounding like a whiner, just making an observation  ) From what I've been reading, (and it makes complete sense) if the "gold" is on top of a worn detail, then it was applied later in it life. If the "gold" wear matches the coin wear, then there is a good chance it is was done relatively close to 1883. What I am asking for, is for someone who has more experience than I do to give me an opinion as to whether the wear looks "right". (my amateur eye says it does) And, how does this effect value? I know this isn't a valuable coin either way. I guess I just like to learn. Someone teach me! |
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Moderator
United States
16677 Posts |
Well, the coins reverse is obviously damaged (scratched,mount removed)
The coin would grade approx. VF20 maybe 25. The gold layer looks pretty heavily applied. Other than those particular observations, I'll let others state their opinions.
swcoin.ecrater.com
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3098 Posts |
Well, I personally think it's just an interesting piece since there is no really tip-top way of knowing if it was plated (and even used fraudulently!) back in 1883 or replated sometime else. Anyways, it always does good as a conversation piece!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
677 Posts |
vermonensium, Thanks for the approximate grade. Numismedia has a VF-20 listed at $11. I paid $9. It's nice to know (after the fact  ) that I didn't get ripped-off. You brought up a point that I forgot to ask about. The heavy scratching on the back. You mentioned a mount. Do you mean like maybe someone glued it into a book and then someone else scraped it off? Or some kind of a jewelry mount? Yes, I am a newbie!  wd1040, You are absolutely right about it being a good conversation piece. I have always been a "Wild West" era fan, and the story behind it is great. I have a feeling it is the first piece of a "Wild West" collection. Anybody have some CC Morgans they want to get rid of for cheap? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5318 Posts |
Interesting to think about, although I wonder if there's any real way to tell? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
954 Posts |
Does it have reeding? I've read that some of the original ones had reeding to match the gold coins.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
677 Posts |
Becky,  I read that a while back, too. Forgot all about it. No, mine doesn't. I guess that makes it unlikely that it was done with the intent to pass it off as a $5 gold piece. Unless it was done by a lazy racketeer! I read that people made them for the souvenir market, also. My wife has one with a small hole at the top. Very good chance that it was sold as a necklace charm some time in the past. Like has been posted, there is no way to say for sure. It's definitely a good conversation starter, though! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1840 Posts |
I suppose if the coin was used as evidence in a trial and had the appropriate provenance it would be worth a significant amount of money as a racketeer nickel. Otherwise I believe it would next to impossible to prove it was genuine. Plating a nickel isn't a high tech procedure. Cutting reeds or wearing some of the gold off of the plated coin would likewise be pretty simple.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
As stated there is no way to say exactly when the piece was plated. About all you could say it taht from the wear and the way the gold palted areas match the wear, it was probably plated much closer to 1883 than 1983. So I would probably consider this to be a "real" one.
As to whether or not anyone ever made racketeer nickels and passed them I don't think there is any doubt and I think the collecting community would agree (after all if they passed gold plated lead and copper counterfeits why wouldn't they try to pass a gold plated Five that didn't say cents on it.) The thing that is questioned is the Josh Tatum story. That part is what is bunk. Unles it is contained in your scanned clipping, and the clipping contains the date the article ran
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Pillar of the Community
United States
677 Posts |
Conder101, The reason I said there is discussion as to it ever happening is that I read ONE article buy a guy saying he doubted it. He is apparently in a very small minority. As you say, if there is a chance to make a counterfeit, people will! Quote:
The thing that is questioned is the Josh Tatum story. That part is what is bunk. Unless it is contained in your scanned clipping, and the clipping contains the date the article ran From my "research" I agree that Josh Tatum never existed. And the phrase "I'm Joshing you" appeared in print at least 25 years prior to 1883. (I forget the exact date) The Times article I have is regarding a gentleman (NOT named Josh Tatum) who turned himself in to go on trial for gold "washing" nickels and passing them off. It was early 1884. I forget the exact date. When I get home to my PC, I can post it if anyone is interested. As far as I am concerned, I have a (probably) real Racketeer nickel. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
Even that would be interesting because as far as I know there has never been a court record found for passing a gold plated nickel. You article may give a clue as to where to look to find such a record.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
677 Posts |
I will post it as soon as I can. (May not be until Friday)
A depressing thought just crossed my mind: I hope the article isn't fake! I downloaded the image file off of a web-site. I didn't bookmark the site at all, and I can't remember what it was called. I remember that the site seemed pretty legit. But I suppose someone could have faked the article for kicks.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
677 Posts |
Here is the article: Image:  RacketeerNickle.jpg78.1 KB I just found this article on the NYT web-site, so apparently it is legit. I am going to see what I can find on the trial. Edited by schmidty
02/07/2009 12:17 pm
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New Member
United States
3 Posts |
There deffinetly were racketier nickels. But because there is no way
to tell when they were plated. They are
purely novelty items.
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Posted 02/01/2009 3:56 pm
RacketeerNickle.jpg
