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 Replies: 9 / Views: 1,808 |
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New Member
United States
3 Posts |
I've collected coins for many years, but mostly Morgans. My son has started to collect in past few years and we picked up an 1803 1/2 cent and he noticed that it looked like it had a spiked chin like the 1804 variety. I've attached photos but my camera is not very good and I'm very much not a photographer. The coin looks more "normal" than the photos - if anyone wants better ones I'll try to get them. If anyone has seen a possible spiked chin like this before I'd like to hear about it. Also, the coins weighs right (5.46 g) looks like the 1804 Cohen 6, except the date is 1803 (although the numbers are not in exactly the same location). I'd like to send it in for authentication and grading but if there's something I've missed I'd rather not go through that effort.    |
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
Near as I can tell, there are no 1803 Half Cent reverses with the top leaves in that relationship to ES. For that reason I have to consider it a fake unless further data comes to light. |
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Rest in Peace
United States
17900 Posts |
It's a fake. Notice both the raised dots caused by bubbles in the mold surface and the crater like dips.
A photo of the edge may show a seam or indication of seam removal.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
Obv from a undated hub created from an 1804 obv 1a that had an 1803 date punched in, the reverse die is from an 1804 Rev D. It is a definite fake. If you can return it and get your money back.
The counterfeiters will often create an obv hub then grind the date off. From that they can make undated dies that hey cn punch ant date they want in. They do that so they can make dies for any date without having to create a hub for each one of them. And since the reverse die has no date you can find this same rev on fakes with dates from 1802 to 1808.
I just looked at the date and it is completely wrong as well. Style doesn't match what was used in 1803/1804 either.
Edited by Conder101
09/15/2017 1:21 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7840 Posts |
Swing and a miss. I agree with aforementioned on the "fantasy" piece you have here.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
 Oh well.  to the CCF! |
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New Member
 United States
3 Posts |
To follow up on this post - this coin was submitted to PCGS and it was returned in a "body bag" as counterfeit - based on the comments here we notified the seller of the concern early, and they provided assurance of the authenticity of the coin. From that, we appreciate that the seller guaranteed their items as genuine, so we are in the process of returning this coin to the seller and getting a refund on our cost and expenses. Hopefully this post will help other people, and maybe act as a warning to those that might consider or actually are producing counterfeit and/or artificially altering coins. Thanks so much for the comments and feedback!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7375 Posts |
Nice that they guaranteed it, hopefully you can get the grading fees back too, keep us posted.
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New Member
United States
3 Posts |
So to follow up on this coin - PCGS graded it "counterfeit" as expected. And the seller was excellent with their response - immediately offered a refund and provided prompt service in handling the refund. I would have been extremely excited if the coin were genuine, but I'm very satisfied that the seller handled the situation professionally. I would like to disclose the seller to emphasize my appreciation, but I am not affiliated with them, so I will only do so with their permission - after all, selling a counterfeit coin is not ideal marketing but backing up the sale with 100% confidence was a big win in my book. And thanks to all here that provided excellent feedback and constructive comments! Your help is part of the immense satisfaction in being in this business!
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
3058 Posts |
Glad you got your money back!
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Replies: 9 / Views: 1,808 |
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Posted 09/15/2017 01:36 am
