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 Replies: 17 / Views: 5,570 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1080 Posts |
Hey, everybody! I picked this up this week from my local coin pusher. The coin is very worn -- and so is the holder, for that matter! But it's an original box for a Lexington-Concord. I was a little concerned tonight reading about the counterfeit boxes that do exist, but this specimen does have an imprinted date. The ink looks more black than blue to me. So any opinions on this item's authenticity are welcome. I know the iPhone photos only do so much, but here they are nonetheless.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
This is one of the best coins of the series imo. Love the design and love what it is commemorating.
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Moderator
 United States
15414 Posts |
I am unable to authenticate the box ... but looks very nice from here.  David Take a look at my other hobby ... http://www.jk-dk.art |
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Rest in Peace
United States
4078 Posts |
Great addition. How would a person authenticate the box? What methods would they use? Just curious.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1080 Posts |
From what I have read, replica boxes are made from balsa instead of pine, the dates on the front are stamped on the box instead of printed into the box, and the photos of fakes I have seen have very simple representations of the minuteman on the front. However the ink should be blue instead of black. The coin usually will "match" the box, and the green PVC-like residue on the obverse of this coin does suggest that it lived in a pine box for quite some time.
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Moderator
United States
188191 Posts |
Very nice! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1511 Posts |
Great coin and box! If you can't tell from my avatar this is one of my top 2 favorite classic commemoratives... My avatar coin I shopped for for months to find an example I really liked.. And finally did. I really wanted one of the boxes sets, but it was hard to find a coin in superb condition in the box, so I settled for a gem example of just the coin. I'm from Mass, went to U-Mass (home of the Minuteman) and have special memories in Concord that I never want to forget, so this half was perfect for me! Not to mention the historical aspect, not only for my state but the country. But growing up in mass the Lexington/Concord story was one heard over and over, drilled into our heads since grade school! Lol. I may have to try to find an empty box and buy just that.. Anyways, I really don't know how to tell a counterfeit box but you have a very nice set there! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3453 Posts |
Commems should be able to comment on the box. Very nice! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3453 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3486 Posts |
Commems? My thoughts exactly, CoinsKelly. A nice little history of original packaging for the classic commemorative halves would be a most welcome addition to this great storehouse of knowledge. Nowadays, people are too quick to take the coins out of the original packaging and to ship them off to a TPG. Sad ... |
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Moderator
United States
188191 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3453 Posts |
As usual, thanks jbuck. I must have fat fingered something because I did see this in my responses in the CCF engine (which I check first now a days  ). |
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Moderator
United States
188191 Posts |
No problem. I am sure he will still have something to add to this post. He is that good.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5206 Posts |
Nice find. I wonder why the orignal owner kept the box but wore the coin out. Usually people who keep boxes for stuff take good care of whtever came in it  I guess it could have been a sentiemntal pocket piece which is why they kept the box or maybe someone mated the box with a coin that didn't come with it originally |
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
United States
12266 Posts |
Nice pick-up! It's always nice to supplement one of the classic US commemorative pieces with some of its associated materials! (At least IMHO!)
Your check for imprinted vs. surface printed dates is a good diagnostic for these pieces; the dates should definitely be pressed into the wood if it's a genuine piece.
In terms of the ink color, some variance from "blue" is found on genuine pieces. Ink color can range from very dark blue (almost black) to a grayish blue. Mine is somewhere between these two ends of the spectrum. The ink color has undoubtedly faded on many (if not all) of these pieces over the last 88 years, so one can't diagnose strictly on color (unless it is clearly not within the blue "family").
Have you measured your box? As noted above, the box should be a square of roughly 1-3/4" by 1-3/4" (a slight variation of 1/16th of an inch is OK). If one side is notably longer than the other, it's likely a problem. Yours appears to be square, but it would be good to confirm.
Of course, a key diagnostic is whether the box is pine or some other wood. The originals are pine, the known counterfeits are not. Are you familiar enough with the charactersitics of pine to tell? If not, do you know someone who is?
Overall, your box appears to be genuine but I can't be absolutely certain from just images.
Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1080 Posts |
Very grateful for the input. The box measures 1 3/4" by 1 11/16". The wood seems to be pine from my limited wood knowledge.
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Replies: 17 / Views: 5,570 |
Posted 03/13/2013 05:57 am
