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 Replies: 15 / Views: 1,898 |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1888 Posts |
Of the small batch of older US coins I acquired privately recently, this is the only one that gives me some qualms. Mostly because I do not know the series well, and according to everything I have read, here and elsewhere, it's one of the most frequently faked coins. So please give me your honest opinions as to legitimacy; grade; value; whatever. Would -you- have thrown one fifty at it ? ? I fully realize it has been lightly cleaned and/or dipped in the past. It looks better in hand; there is very little handling chatter, and the fields are smooth. Thanks again for looking in. -edit- I forgot to add, the weight is 27.18 gm.        Edited by mysilveryears
02/16/2015 6:42 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
18673 Posts |
Far from an expert on these. I'm at AU53 details due to a previous cleaning. Based on my limited knowledge it looks genuine
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1796 Posts |
I don't like the lump on the date, nor several other lumps in Liberty's dress. However I need to take a closer look on something other than my phone. :-)
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
Also a lump on Liberty's right thigh.
It would be prudent to do a comparative ring tone text against a known genuine coin.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7375 Posts |
Nice little die break on the reverse running down from the U. I say it's real but harshly cleaned. AU details.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
5417 Posts |
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Rest in Peace
United States
10625 Posts |
Ed nailed the feature that caught my eye to steer me towards authentic but details due to cleaning.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1888 Posts |
Good eye, ed- !
Thanks for the replies everyone.
I guess it was fair value for what I paid.
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
The lumps on the '7' and the '8' of the date show different light reflection patterns. The mark on the 8 looks like a lump, the mark on the horizontal of the 7 looks like a nick.
Another mark on the tail of the 5 also.
Am more curious now, about the results of a comparative ring tone test that I suggested.
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
Another "little thing" is the relative weakness of the tops of some of the round letters, known in such lettering designs as dies wear.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1796 Posts |
Getting a better look, aye, I'm not liking what I'm seeing. Itemized in one of the obverse pictures:  There were a few other such counterfeits that exhibited lumps in the date a while back (lumps in different places, mind) and PCGS did an article on them. This coupled with the denticles on the reverse (which are weak from 12 o'clock to about 4 or 5 o'clock) and the other observations made and already mentioned by sel_69l, I am not confident that this coin is real. A ring test, diamagnetic test, and/or specific gravity test are essential at this point. Edited by SteveCaruso
02/16/2015 10:28 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7621 Posts |
Nice coin, no qualms with the authenticity. Cleaned, but most of them have been. 150$? You did fine.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1888 Posts |
Well, there definitely seems to be some controversy here  I have performed my version of sel's 'ring test' [ https://goccf.com/t/181567 ] with the 1873 T.D from my 7070, and they sound exactly the same to my ear.. and I have a 'pretty good ear'. The weight is also within a hundredth of a gram; the 1873 weighs 27.19 gm. I think the bumps and lumps may be due to my crude handheld photo technique plus a fifteen-year-old 1.2mp camera. Here is another close-up of the date area, as best as I can get it:  Comparing the two coins side by side, feature by feature, denticle by denticle, I cannot discern any difference other than that caused by the 1875 coin having handling marks that the better 1873 does not have. That's about all I can do test-wise, without paying the cost of slabbing. I appreciate everyone's input. And I truly wish we lived in a thoroughly honest world where threads like this do not need to exist. That, of course, is pure fantasy at this time and place. But one can always dream, eh? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7621 Posts |
A lot of Trade dollars that show up here on the forums ARE counterfeit. Yours isn't based on what I see. You show it to 20 different people you'll get 20 answers based on what people see. Some will say it's counterfeit, some will say it's genuine. If you are concerned with authenticity send it to ANACS. |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
Having passed the comparative ring tone test
I am much more inclined to believe that the subject coin is authentic.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7193 Posts |
Your 1875s does appear genuine. I would find it hard to have a die crack in an imitation coin. This is mine bought raw and then verified by ANACS   |
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Replies: 15 / Views: 1,898 |
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Posted 02/16/2015 6:39 pm
