A Couple Of Chinese Half Cents On Ebay

Phil310, I may be missing something here, but why can't these be genuine? Thanks.

Chances are the seller knows exactly what these are.

Yeah, the digits are terrible and the "spikec chin" variety was fir 1804 only...that I am aware of.

Just checked this auction.


Last bid was $120.50

I really hope that someone isn't out that much for counterfeit coins.

Hopefully the seller just ended the listing without actually selling them to anyone. There are way too many of these Chinese fake coins in the marketplace.

Nothing is more discouraging to a new collector than finding out a coin you bought in good faith is a counterfeit. I bought what I thought was a XF 1799 US silver dollar in the late 1970's from a reputable dealer for $ 530.00. It was by far the most I had ever paid for a coin (and still is). It turned out to be a modern counterfeit. I found this out when an expert on counterfeit coins was at a coin show and agreed to check out coins for free to those attending. I was stunned when he told me it wasn't real and explained the features that identified it as a counterfeit. The story ends well for me though. The reputable dealer I bought it from was at the same show and in less than 10 minutes, I had been refunded the $ 530.00. I became very cautious about buying any coin and it really discouraged me for a time. I also began to buy books and learn as much as I could about the coins I was interested in.

So I learned two very important things from the experience. 1 - Study and learn about the coins you collect 2 - Always buy expensive coins from a reputable dealer.

Looks like there may have been a bit of shill bidding going on and seller sold it to himself.
Interesting to see if it gets relisted.

I wrote a Coin Week article on this "family" of fakes @ https://coinweek.com/counterfeits/s...-half-cents/