| Author |
 Replies: 11 / Views: 1,325 |
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
5362 Posts |
You never know what will pop-up on ebay. This is one reason I oppose removal of all counterfeits from ebay. This particular counterfeit is a contemporary circulating forgery made before the US Civil War. It is the first of the particular die type that I have ever run into. The drill hole through the date is a period form of cancellation. I would dare say that an original coin in this condition and from this mint would be essentially a junk silver coin. So it is worth several times that of an original and it is far scarcer. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...27&rd=1&rd=1It has been a very busy spring for me. I have added over 200 counterfeit Cap and Ray coins to my collection. Most are duplicates or minor varieties of earlier known types, but I have added a couple dozen entirely new varieties. |
|
|
|
Moderator
 United States
6563 Posts |
Do you have a good picture reference system of yours or someone else's that has a fake next to a real coin for several different types? Always nice to compare.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
 United States
5362 Posts |
graceoutcast The best reference for this series is "Resplandores" by Dunnigan and Parker, 1997. That book has pictures of every date, mint, assayer and major variety of the entire Cap and Ray series. About 1,400 coins form the set. There are also hundreds of micro-photos of most known overdates, overassayers and die blunders. The counterfeits are fairly easy to ID if they vary from the "typical" forms.
The best reference for the counterfeit varieties is John Riddell's "Monograph of the Silver Dollar, Good and Bad" published in 1845. I hope to publish a definitive update of this book before I die.
For my own use, or at times to prove a forgery to a seller, I make up a side by side comparison. But there are so many forgeries, more than originals that a 100% complete list would be impossible. For example, right now I have about 100 varieties of counterfeits of the 1842 Zs OM 8R - alone.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1984 Posts |
I wonder how many people do support the removal of all counterfeits from ebay. I don't, there is a big difference between the different types of counterfeits, and there are several contemporary half bust counterfeits I keep my eyes open for. I personally support efforts at greater transparency, however. That one is very cool. |
|
Pillar of the Community
Czech Republic
803 Posts |
Bob! Welcome back :) Sounds like you're having quite a productive Spring!
I wanted to tell you that I was able to get my hands on a re-print of Riddell's! It should be here in about a week. Can hardly wait!
~Roman
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1454 Posts |
Bob, I have something I want to show you. I won it off the local bid board months ago but was thinking of you when I put the bid on it. Unfortunately this morning I have to go into my new job for a couple of hours to learn the software that they use. When I get home this afternoon I will try to get some pictures of them and put them up here for you. It's a counterfeit I never saw before and it is such a common coin from Panama that you wouldn't think someone would take the time to do it. Will post them this afternoon.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
5362 Posts |
Roman Nice to hear you landed a copy of Riddell. What did it set you back?
Irishraider Anytime.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4589 Posts |
Welcome back BOB, My dealer said he has some more coins for you
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Czech Republic
803 Posts |
Bob, the book is a loaner from the library of the Numismatic society I belong to. My search for my own copy still continues.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1454 Posts |
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
5362 Posts |
Irishraider The 1953 1/2 Balboa is not one I have seen. Most of the 1 Balboa series was copied by the group in Beijing over the past year or so and they are quite common. I presume that this coin is cast in white metal from a simple transfer mold. The wide rim would point in that direction. How is it edged? Was it forced through a ring die? (That produces split top reeds and many are filed to smooth the corners).
If it is an injection molded copy - it costs a few cents to make. If they can get 50 cents at a flea market they will more than double their money. That is incentive enough to make these copies.
Nothing is out of bounds.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1454 Posts |
Bob, if you want them they're yours. No charge. Mostly because when I saw them on the local bid board and nobody bid on them I got them fairly cheap and was thinking of sending them to you when I won them anyway. I think it would be a good learning tool for all if it were in more capable and knowledgeable hands. I know squat about counterfeits but have learned a lot by coming here and seeing your posts so PM me and I will send it out to ya.
Dean
Irishraider
|
| |
Replies: 11 / Views: 1,325 |
|
Posted 05/11/2007 10:23 pm
