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Pillar of the Community
United States
3499 Posts |
Hey everyone, I was given this 3 cent coin a while back by a friend who was not certain if it was real. I am more of a world coin enthusiast, so I'm not certain either. what do you guys think, real or fake? Thanks! Image:  USthreecentsobv.jpg25.27 KB Image: USthreecentsrev.jpg29.7 KB
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Pillar of the Community
United States
666 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
3499 Posts |
Oh, I know that it is a real type of coin, but I was just not certain if this particular coin shows signs of being a counterfeit. The strange damage to the back made my friend a bit suspicious of the coin. So what do you guys make of it?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
666 Posts |
I don't think you should worry about this being a counterfeit... If it were dated 1882-1887 then maybe... but not an 1865... RedBook value on this in VF20 (which is close to what I would grade your coin) is around $25... I haven't seen much in the way of counterfeits until you get into the mid #xxx figures... |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3499 Posts |
hmm, well that is good. But the coin just feels VERY light. I don't see any signs of casting on the edges, but something does seem a bit amiss about the coin. Any idea of possible indicators of it or other coins of this type being a fake?
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Valued Member
United States
157 Posts |
It's real, but not very good shape. If it was counterfeit, I'm sure they would have made it more beautiful and appealing.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3499 Posts |
Hmmm, I suppose. But you just never know about these things. Maybe I'm just paranoid about these things since I am more of a world coin enthusiast, and many types of world coins have been counterfeited like mad in recent years. In essence, I've become used to thinking a coin is counterfeit unless proven otherwise.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
632 Posts |
Like the previous posters have said, the coin does not look counterfiet to me. And I can't imagine why it would be. The coin isn't worth much especially in that condition. All the features look nice and prominant, but its no AU coin especially with no luster. Maybe 20 - 25 dollars. But the coin is really cool for its uniqueness. What you have there is what is known as a three-cent-nickle. There was also an early Three Cent coin known as the three-cent-silver because it, duh, contained silver and yours is made out of nickle. The U.S. mint made three-cent coins because at the time that was the price of a stamp. Almost nobody outside of the collecting community knows that the U.S. mint once made these denominations. |
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Valued Member
United States
372 Posts |
Could it have been a metal detector find? The deterioration seems to hint to that.
Mike
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Valued Member
United States
381 Posts |
You can compare it to my 1865.   |
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Valued Member
United States
157 Posts |
/Users/mikefry/Desktop/18653centnickel.jpg
/Users/mikefry/Desktop/18653centnickelreverse.jpg
I got a 1865 also.
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Valued Member
United States
157 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3499 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
Quote:
But the coin just feels VERY light That is because it is light, 1.94g to be exact. It really looks like it should be two different coins- the obverse is very nice but the reverse looks horribly pitted  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2540 Posts |
mfry:
That is one of the nicest 3 cent nickels that I have ever seen.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3499 Posts |
biokemist6- Yeah, that is why the coin has been deemed a bit suspicious to many people. I'm really not sure of the origin of the coin. It may have been a metal detector find. Truth be told, I just found out from my friend that he got it from a dealer who was not sure if it was real. I suppose this coin has passed between a number of people who have been unsure of it.
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Replies: 29 / Views: 3,588 |
Posted 06/04/2008 7:33 pm
USthreecentsobv.jpg
USthreecentsrev.jpg
