Counterfeit Detection: 1870-S Half Dollar

NGC - Analysis of the date and weight proves that this coin isn't genuine.

The San Francisco Mint struck just over 1 million Seated Liberty half dollars in 1870. Only five years after the end of the Civil War, Americans still preferred coinage over paper money, so most examples circulated extensively. This means that the 1870-S half dollar is quite scarce in Extra Fine or higher. The example shown was recently submitted to Numismatic Guaranty Corporation® (NGC®) and immediately caught the graders' eyes.

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At first glance, this coin appears to be an Almost Uncirculated (albeit cleaned) 1870-S half dollar worth hundreds of dollars. However, the fields, which should be smooth, are uneven and porous. This porosity is even more evident on the devices.


Counterfeit 1870-S Half Dollar

The details also are weak. The folds in the dress and the lines and LIBERTY on the shield are much less defined than they would be on a true moderately circulated coin. This is because of either poor detail on the counterfeiter's dies, insufficient striking pressure, or both.

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