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 Replies: 15 / Views: 1,442 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1211 Posts |
I buy a lot of coins (and lots of other stuff) at garage sales and flea markets. Buying fake stuff is just part of the game. Typically you pick stuff up so cheap that the overall "curve" is not affected by the occasional "bad buy". Well, Saturday morning I stopped by a garage sale and found some coins the guy was selling in his garage. It was dark in there and I was sorting through coins and putting aside anything I was remotely interested in. I paid him 1 price for my "lot" and went home. One item was one of those silly coin sets similar to a proof set only with random coins inside. "Coins of FDR's presidency" or something like that. Popped open the case and inside was a 1921 walker, which I honestly didnt even notice at the time. Took one look at it and realized it was fake. Failed the drop test, flip test, is underweight, surface is grainy and flat, reeded edge is irregular, etc.   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2563 Posts |
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Moderator
 United States
16679 Posts |
Cast for sure. Looks like some kind of pot metal.
swcoin.ecrater.com
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3253 Posts |
I think that's a cool thing to find! Might it be a contemporary counterfeit from circulation?
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1211 Posts |
I collect contemporary counterfeits, so that would be a huge score if it was indeed contemporary.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1053 Posts |
Is there any way to tell?
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
The overall wear and patination lend support to it being a contemporary counterfeit. It is a key date in modern times but was probably just seen as fifty cents when it was made 80-ish years ago.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2368 Posts |
How much did you pay for it? It might not be a total loss that way...
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Pillar of the Community
798 Posts |
Why do they always fake key dates? That's very annoying  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1372 Posts |
I have a contemporary 1878 seated half I'd love to say goodbye to. I got it in a "lot" on ebay a few years ago. I think maybe I'll list it in the trading forum. Its cast as well. Chance |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
5417 Posts |
That really stinks but I guess this would be something to learn from.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
3167 Posts |
At least you didn't notice it until after paying  Quote:
Why do they always fake key dates? The question is, if they are going to bother, why not? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4415 Posts |
This one looks much like a cast 1918 Walker that my Dad gave me when I was a kid. IMHO, it's likely a contemporary counterfeit that was made to pass in circulation, rather than to dupe a collector. I think it's a neat item and worthy of placement in the Black Cabinet!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1432 Posts |
As a contemporary counterfeit, this was worth just under the average hourly wage. It would pay for a half gallon of milk, a dozen eggs and a loaf of bread.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1211 Posts |
My blunder turned into a history lesson and an added asset to my collection... Wonderful! Thank you all.
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
I can't imagine this not being a contemporary fake. Therefore, this does not resemble a "blunder" in any aspect.
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Replies: 15 / Views: 1,442 |
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Posted 11/25/2013 6:12 pm
