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Counterfeit Bust Half Dollar Alert

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Bonedigger's Avatar
United States
1267 Posts
 Posted 12/12/2008  3:45 pm Show Profile   Bookmark this topic Add Bonedigger to your friends list Get a Link to this Message Number of Subscribers
Some time ago, many of you fellow collectors recall I KNOWINGLY purchased a counterfeit Bust Half Dollar, dated 1833. I just wanted to share some information I received from a very knowledgeable individual about the three dates one must be aware of if they are purchasing coins of this series. The 1833, 1831, and 1830 are ones to be careful of. While the great majority of raw dates in this group are authentic there are these three virtually flawless examples which are showing up on internet auctions, particularly ebay.

Notice they all have the same Bust, Denticle, and Star placement

Take Care and Be Careful
Ben
Counterfeit-Bust-Half-Dollar-Alert
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jbuck's Avatar
United States
187702 Posts
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markapsolon's Avatar
United States
207 Posts
 Posted 12/12/2008  4:21 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add markapsolon to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
I'm going to have to be really careful buying these when I start collecting them Thanks for the info
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atlashealth's Avatar
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1691 Posts
 Posted 12/12/2008  4:26 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add atlashealth to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
could have fooled me... Thanks bonedigger!
Edited by atlashealth
12/12/2008 4:28 pm
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mycrob's Avatar
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2602 Posts
 Posted 12/12/2008  4:35 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add mycrob to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Can you show pictures of the authentic version of the same dates and point out the differences? I have almost no knowledge of these coins, so it would help me in knowing what to look for. Thanks!
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Bonedigger's Avatar
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1267 Posts
 Posted 12/12/2008  4:53 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Bonedigger to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Here is a site which shows ALL of the varieties of authentic capped bust half dollar Dollars. For those who are collecting the series it would behoove you to check out the various examples of the date you are pondering to buy. Keep in mind there are a total of 450 different varieties in the whole 1807-1836 series.

Take Care
Ben
http://coinzip.proboards79.com/inde...board=lebust
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jbuck's Avatar
United States
187702 Posts
 Posted 12/12/2008  5:02 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add jbuck to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply

Quote:
I'm going to have to be really careful buying these when I start collecting them
I have already asked Bonedigger to help me out when the times comes that I am ready to fill the bust half holes in my 7070!

Quote:
Here is a site which shows ALL of the varieties of authentic capped bust half dollar Dollars
Bookmarked!
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vermontensium's Avatar
United States
16677 Posts
 Posted 12/12/2008  6:05 pm  Show Profile   Check vermontensium's eBay Listings Check vermontensium's eCrater Listings Bookmark this reply Add vermontensium to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Thanks Bonedigger. Shame isn't it.
swcoin.ecrater.com
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Amazon99's Avatar
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 Posted 12/12/2008  6:30 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Amazon99 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
This are modern made, right?
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Bonedigger's Avatar
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 Posted 12/12/2008  7:00 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Bonedigger to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply

Quote:
This are modern made, right?


I believe so and the weight is pretty accurate as well -- just a tad less than 13.5 grams.
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KurtS's Avatar
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5318 Posts
 Posted 12/12/2008  8:58 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add KurtS to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Hmmm...thanks for the info!
I'm assuming these forgeries are the correct .8924 Ag and density?
I assume they're not making the 1830 large letters, but those avg-priced CBHs which won't invite too much scrutiny.
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Bonedigger's Avatar
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1267 Posts
 Posted 12/13/2008  09:59 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Bonedigger to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply

Quote:
I'm assuming these forgeries are the correct .8924 Ag and density?


Not sure of a 'Non Destructive Method' to test if a metal is Ag or not. Do you know of one? Never the less, the weight of the 1833 Counterfeit I picked up was within acceptable standards using a scale calibrated to W/I 1/10 of a gram. No idea what the metallic composition is; maybe a core of lead surrounded by pot metal?

Take Care
Ben
Edited by Bonedigger
12/13/2008 10:40 am
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KurtS's Avatar
United States
5318 Posts
 Posted 12/13/2008  12:16 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add KurtS to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Ben,
Yes--there's a non-destructive method, but using very fancy lab equipment and not terribly practical.
And you're right--I think a lead core/pot metal coin would approximate the density well enough.
I suppose the best defense against forgeries would be really knowing the coin series.
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PennehChaos's Avatar
United States
311 Posts
 Posted 12/15/2008  1:04 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add PennehChaos to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Does the metal look right in hand? Looks pretty good in the photos.

Could be that they're actually using the correct metals for a change. The dies are obviously a nice piece of work... why waste it trying to save $4/coin by using junk metal that will give away the scam, when the coins can otherwise pass for $100+ pieces?

Edit to add: 1831 Liberty has a neck like a pro linebacker!
Edited by PennehChaos
12/15/2008 1:06 pm
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Bonedigger's Avatar
United States
1267 Posts
 Posted 12/15/2008  4:20 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Bonedigger to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
It has a slick/soft/smooth feet to it. Definitely, not what I'd call silver. When flipped in the air and landing on a wooden table, there is more of THUD vs. a RING one would associate with a silver half.

Take Care
Ben
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Conder101's Avatar
United States
17884 Posts
 Posted 12/16/2008  10:51 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Conder101 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply

Quote:
Edit to add: 1831 Liberty has a neck like a pro linebacker!

The dies for all three of these came from the same hub with just the first three digits and the final digit punched into the die individually. That is NOT the way the mint made the dies. Even when they did use full hubs to make the dies (post 1836) the hubs did not have the dates on them and all of the digits were punched in by hand and the digits were punched individually until 1840. The neck looks so thick on the 1831 because it was either not hubbed as deeply or the strike was a little weak so the jawline is not clearly defined making the neck look very thick.
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