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Replies: 9 / Views: 701 |
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Pillar of the Community

United States
5174 Posts |
I'm not very well-versed in these older coins, but this one is kind of like playing spot the big goof rather than looking for tiny details to show it's a fake. Anyway, what you can't see is that the edge has lettering with the vertical reeding between the words and weighs 11.53g. Kinda looks like it's cracked in one or two places as well. 1838 Capped Bust half dollar - counterfeit  
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Bedrock of the Community

United States
76414 Posts |
Goofy-looking for sure, thanks!
Edited by Coinfrog 02/02/2023 10:03 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1694 Posts |
This is a contemporary counterfeit, not a recent one.
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
20722 Posts |
Pasty textured fields betray it. Examination with a high powered loupe would confirm the betrayal. OK to include in a 'black' collection for educational purposes, provided the low price is right.
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Pillar of the Community

United States
9784 Posts |
The obverse portrait is a solid giveaway of this 'coins' provenance.
Take a look at my other hobby ... http://www.jk-dk.artToo many hobbies .... too much work .... not enough time.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2677 Posts |
Ploopy is right, it is a contemporary counterfeit. Genuine examples in 1838 were struck with a closed collar, exhibit edge reeding, and have a smaller diameter. This coin looks is the earlier design type with the larger diameter and edge lettering. You would probably like the resource, "Contemporary Counterfeit Capped Bust half dollars" by Davignon.
Suffering from bust half fever. Want to learn how to attribute early half dollars by die variety? Click Here: http://goccf.com/t/434955Shoot me a PM if you are looking to sell bust halves.
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Bedrock of the Community

United States
15569 Posts |
Where did you find this one TB?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4116 Posts |
As contemporary counterfeits go, this one's in pretty decent shape. There's a good book on these, with many varieties listed, year by year. Davignon was the author.
To my experience, these counterfeits typically trade for more money than low grade Busties. Rarer varieties can realize prices in the hundreds of dollars.
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Pillar of the Community

United States
5174 Posts |
Thanks folks! I had no idea there were enough of these to warrant a book about them. Possibly since they are collectible that is why I don't see very many. And I found the website that attributes them here: http://www.cccbhcc.com/variety-attr...n-guide.htmlYes, the big error on this one is pretty well spelled out by jacrispies. It has the wrong reverse and edge for an 1838. Lots of other little things too of course. Based on the ccCBHcc website I attribute this one as Obv. 3 Rev. E, which they note is probably the most common of them all which makes sense that it is what I have encountered.
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Pillar of the Community

United States
5174 Posts |
Since I had the website open, I went into my counterfeit collection to see if I had any more of those. Ended up finding just one more, a 1837 Obv. 2 Rev. B.
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Replies: 9 / Views: 701 |
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