1860 Seated Liberty Half Authenticity Concerns

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Author	Replies: 6 / Views: 1,226
Biancasdad Pillar of the Community United States 1045 Posts	Posted 05/28/2013 6:09 pm Hello friends, I have had this coin for many years in my junk bin and have recently had a closer look and am questioning it's authenticity. I did a quick silver scratch board test which it failed, but I have found that silver coins don't usually pass this test anyways as the reeded edges inhibit any real results. My main concern is the weight of 8.7 grams. Is it possible for a coin to be worn so much to have lost nearly 4 grams of mass or is this a red flag that this coin isn't silver and is fake? My calibers measure it at 30.3mm Thanks in advance for any responses, -Kurt Report this Post to the Staff

SsuperDdave Moderator United States 23522 Posts	Posted 05/28/2013 6:15 pm Welcome to CCF, Biancasdad. I share your concern about the weight; 4g is a huge percentage loss and I don't think that's compatible with authenticity. Keep in mind, the majority of the weight is in the "center" of the coin; the devices don't contribute all that much and if you can still see them - as on this coin - it becomes very suspect. With that said, if this is a fake it's a very good one. This is a low-mintage date which might lend itself to deliberate fakery, even in a lower grade. Report this Post to the Staff
Ben Pillar of the Community United Kingdom 4208 Posts	Posted 05/28/2013 6:39 pm Weeeell, it could be a Magicians coin. Does it sound hollow? Report this Post to the Staff
jack jeckel Pillar of the Community United States 5202 Posts	Posted 05/28/2013 7:07 pm How does the coin feel? From the pictures the coin looks like lead or pewter or at the minimum acid dipped. Report this Post to the Staff
SteveCaruso Pillar of the Community United States 1796 Posts	Posted 05/28/2013 7:45 pm Welcome to the forum. :-) As SsuperDdave said, a 4 gram loss even with that amount of detail is very troublesome. This, to me, looks like it could be a base-metal counterfeit, and if it's a contemporary counterfeit it's most likely made of lead or another soft alloy as the damage I see looks like it was impressed easily. Can you dent the edge of the coin with your fingernail if you press hard enough? Report this Post to the Staff
Biancasdad Pillar of the Community United States 1045 Posts	Posted 05/28/2013 8:27 pm Thanks all. Everything everyone has said makes good sense. I have handled a lot of silver in my day and this doesn't look, feel, or sound like silver when dropped on a countertop. I think pewter or lead is spot on! I feel comfortable now in the knowledge that this is indeed a counterfeit. Much gratitude, -Kurt Report this Post to the Staff
thq Pillar of the Community United States 3343 Posts	Posted 05/29/2013 08:09 am It looks like lead to me but since lead is denser than silver it's probably an alloy. The way it's dented shows that it's soft and malleable. This is a collectible for someone. I've got a couple French counterfeits which book for higher value than their real counterparts. Swamperbob might know. "Two minutes ago I would have sold my chances for a tired dime." Fred Astaire Report this Post to the Staff
	Replies: 6 / Views: 1,226

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