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 Replies: 16 / Views: 1,705 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
505 Posts |
At that weight, it's definitely brass with a silver plating that's beginning to wear away. It is probably a decently old counterfeit but fake nonetheless.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4469 Posts |
It appears that you have a counterfeit as the coin is a little under weight. The S mint mark is out of position for any genuine 1888 s example. On the OP example the top of the S mint mark is above the bottom of the ribbon. On the genuine examples the top of the S is at the bottom of the ribbon or lower. The denticles look off.
Edited by Slider23
02/05/2024 5:13 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
5246 Posts |
The underweight is a dead giveaway. The US mint was quite scrupulous is ensuring that the coinage was the correct weight.
And that was a nice thing to do for someone who needed cash. It also preserved their dignity.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12057 Posts |
Some sort of counterfeit, definitely. Lots of bubbles and marks.
Member ANA - EAC - TNA - SSDC - CCT #890 "Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossible before they were done." -- Louis D. Brandeis |
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Moderator
 United States
34425 Posts |
Any thoughts as to whether this likely was a circulating counterfeit vs. a relatively modern fake made for the collector market? I ask because wouldn't a circulating counterfeit have a modest value?
"If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1498 Posts |
Devices are soft/mushy and the S mintmark is wrong. The eagle's wings are far too close to the beginning and end of IGWT.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
I'd think a collector of counterfeits would quite like to own this.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2208 Posts |
For me the dead giveaway is the color. It's all off. It should be a nice silvery white. This one has a bajillion colors going on.
Edited by jpsned
02/05/2024 6:39 pm
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Valued Member
 United States
127 Posts |
All good to know, but at least he has food tonight. I stopped and bought him a burger and he wolfed it down in three bites. I don't think he had eaten for some time. No regrets, and I learned something too. Thanks all.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1498 Posts |
Agree with @Spence that it would be nice to know the provenance of this fake, if your elderly friend knows where/when he acquired it.
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Moderator
United States
34425 Posts |
Quote:
No regrets, and I learned something too. Yes. Maybe you didn't receive a numismatic prize, but you did a nice thing today. "If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Valued Member
United States
127 Posts |
Halfamind - his dad gave it to him as a child. He cherished that coin, so I will give it back as a Christmas present. I never really meant to keep it, and I knew the moment I looked at it that it wasn't real. But that means nothing to the man who held on to it all these years.
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Moderator
United States
189053 Posts |
Quote:
He cherished that coin, so I will give it back as a Christmas present  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8517 Posts |
WTG Paul, you did a good thing.
Oregon coin geek.....*** GO BEAVS ! ! ! ***
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
36826 Posts |
Hard to tell if it's an old counterfeit or one intentionally aged.
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Replies: 16 / Views: 1,705 |
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First Page
Posted 02/05/2024 5:10 pm
