1860 3CS (This One Is Tricky!) - It's A Fake!

Because there is so much wear on the rim I'd say VG8-10

But it's still better then mine

I like the heavy clash marks on the obverse...both sides of the star/shield and to the right side, next to the blemish, of the date I can faintly make out an N from UNITED. Possibly struck 2 coins at once. Obverse stamped this coin while being struck with reverse die perhaps?...If that make sense?

You guys will love to find out what makes this one so tricky! It's my latest prized posession and from what I understand...fairly rare.

My instincts in looking at the date and the raised dots on the coin along with the color (it could be the scan) were to ask more questions about it before even hazarding a guess at a grade. I haven't seen too many of these, but I don't recall the star going that far into legend.

OK I give, other than the main devices closer to the rim and the odd shape 6 & 0 in the date I have no clue. Prethen ya gotta tell us. I'm in suspense.

Why in heavens name would anyone produce a counterfeit coin of such small value and without any real numismatic value? If it is fake someone wasted a lot of time doing it. I agree that the coin looks weird, but I do not recall reading about any mass counterfeiting going on with this series/date. Also, the Star does sometimes extend into the lettering on issues with three and even two lines(see photograde) on the stars. And as already noted strike quality was often weak making the dates and outlines on the star look mushy and distorted. Perhaps the real value is that it is fake! Mike

P.S. I edited my post to add the photograde stats. This coin is now officially driving me crazy!!!!Mike

While a 3CS is small potatoes today, there was a lot of hoarding of coins of all sorts during the civil war. That could explain why counterfeiters would have taken the time and effort to produce fake 3CS's. There's much about the appearance of this coin to raise suspicions.

I bought this from a dealer that graded this VF+ which I see is pretty much right on. During the Civil War, some unknown number of 3CS (dated 1860 and 1861), maybe in the hundreds were created to pass off in circulation. The cool thing about this piece is that it is a contemporary counterfeit! It was produced to make money off of the difference between it's 3-cent face value and the cost of producing it, probably about 1 cent or so.

I talked to J.P. Martin about this coin. He considers it rare compared to regular coinage. It's unknown how many survive but there probably is not a whole lot out there. I paid much more for this coin than I did a real one of equivalent grade!

You guys are smart! The dies were hand cut, hence giving the piece a really crude look. But, it could easily pass into circulation looking like this. I love this piece and it's now one of my centerpieces of my collection now.