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 Replies: 18 / Views: 7,590 |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11951 Posts |
This coin came into a local shop today, they gave me a call, I could not say no. Of course I needed it for my set. Any opinions?   And it filled a empty hole.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6370 Posts |
Unfortunately, I believe this coin is fake. I see depressions (circled), possible toolmarks (circled in the back of the Indian's neck), and the details in the headdress (big oblong circle) seem weirdly formed. For your sake, I hope I am wrong. If it is fake, it is still gold and you should be able to return it. Unfortunately, it is nearly impossible to authenticate these for certain from pictures.   Edited by TypeCoin971793
08/06/2015 7:08 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1450 Posts |
Wow, if that coin if fake the LCS should have caught it. I would ask them to authenticate it. They are putting their reputation behind it. The rest of you set is beautiful and a great example. Are you waiting for the 1911D?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1295 Posts |
I dunno, looks authentic to me.  I think the "depressions" and "tool marks" you are seeing, Type, are just nicks from circulation. Gold is a very soft metal, and dents easily. The headdress appears to just be a mix of wear and a weak strike. For my money, it's real. Quote:
Unfortunately, it is nearly impossible to authenticate these for certain from pictures. But in that case it's also impossible to deem it otherwise, no?  |
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
11951 Posts |
I will take it to the coin shop tomorrow ... Check it all out
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2448 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6370 Posts |
@Rollsearcher37
Your points are completely valid. I would have to see this coin in person to make any sort of determintation. I would have to look at the alleged toolmarks under magnification and rotate the coin underneath a light to see whether the "depressions" are as-struck or contact marks in which the coin's luster is disturbed and the metal is moved. One way to distinguish a depression from a contact mark is whether or not the interior of the mark is shinier or just plain different than the surrounding surface, otherwise known as a break in the luster.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
711 Posts |
Eagerly awaiting other opinions. I collect old US gold coins. Probably half my collection by value. More Liberty Head coins than anything though. I only have the one $2 1/2 Indian. I thought it was real. Lots of the little details are dead on matches. The diameter is good from the fit in that great Capitol Plastics holder. How is the weight? To me it looks a lot like these Quarter Eagles. http://www.pcgs.com/photograde/#/2.5Ind/Gradeshttps://www.flickr.com/photos/raregoldcoins/Edited by BuckeyeCoinGuy
08/06/2015 9:18 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2130 Posts |
Wow...Interesting thread. Compared to my slabbed examples I would have thought this was real as well. I'm not convinced at all just yet that this is a fake. I'm curious to see how this plays out.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6370 Posts |
Quote:
Compared to my slabbed examples I would have thought this was real as well. I'm not convinced at all just yet that this is a fake. Quote:
I thought it was real. Lots of the little details are dead on matches. The fact that the details match doesn't mean anything. Here is a known counterfeit 1912 quarter eagle.  http://boards.collectors-society.co..._id/1#importEdited by TypeCoin971793
08/07/2015 09:30 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6370 Posts |
Depressions. I wish the pictures were clearer, but it's what I got.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11951 Posts |
I brought all my gold Indians in, to check them all. The shop I help out at, has a new gold coin testing machine. All of my gold coins tested correct, for gold finess. On the state certified scale, all weighed exactly correct. Three of us that have decades of coin experience each, looked at the 1914 and feel there is no problem with it being authentic. At the shop I work at, we have sent in more gold coin than I can count, to be certified. We have never had one come back as fake. I have posted many times that the pictures posted online in most cases do not represent what the coin truly looks like. In this case I took the picture with my new set up, and I am not that good at it. The set up is a 18MP camera with a 100mm macro lens. With three different lights. This set up will really show things that are very hard to see. And with lights and shadow, little hits ...look different then in hand. In conclusion, I feel there is no problem with this coin being authentic. Edit- also checked United States gold, Counterfeit Detection guide. Edited by GR58
08/07/2015 11:06 am
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Moderator
 United States
188744 Posts |
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Of course I needed it for my set. All the reason you need.  Quote:
In conclusion, I feel there is no problem with this coin being authentic. I trust your judgment. You have the coin in hand, which means you certainly have information that we do not have.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6370 Posts |
Okie dokie. I guess I'd trust your judgement. Just so you know, that Counterfeit Detection guide is not comprehensive, but I'm sure you know that. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
604 Posts |
Good to hear everything checked out.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1450 Posts |
Are you determined to complete this set? I think it is a very worthwhile goal because that is one of the few gold sets that the average person can complete. The Indian Head Half Eagle is OK until you hit the year 1929 and the 1909O. If you complete a set you can always improve on it and you have a trade-in to boot.
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Replies: 18 / Views: 7,590 |
Posted 08/06/2015 4:42 pm
