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 Replies: 9 / Views: 5,834 |
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Valued Member
United States
165 Posts |
So I have this coin, that looks like the 1855 Wass, Molitor & Co. $50 but obviously isn't because it's only a quarter of the appropriate 83.59g weight.... then there's the subtle giveaway in that where it is supposed to say "900 THOUS" it says "POO THOUS". I'm hoping to learn if this is a known souvenir, or if it's supposed to be a lousy counterfeit or something. Thanks as always :)   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
9792 Posts |
Looks a lot like old souvenir coins I've seen, cast most likely from the porous surfaces, though they usually have a R for replica or copy stamped on them somewhere. Also notice the gold seems to be worn off on the reverse in the 0 of the 50.
"Buy the Book Before You Buy the Coin" - Aaron R. Feldman - "And read it" - Me 2013! ANA Life Member #3288 in good standing since 1981, ANS, Early American Coppers Member (EAC), Colonial Coin Collectors Club member (C4), Conder Token Collector Club member (CTCC), Civil War Token Society (CWTS) member, Liberty Seated Collectors Club (LSCC) & Numismatic Bibliomania Society member (NBS), USMex, Member in good standing, 2¢ variety collector. See my want page: http://goccf.com/t/140440 |
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Rest in Peace
United States
17900 Posts |
Tourist trap bait. The good old days when you could buy something worthless and enjoy doing so.
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
At 22 grams, it is not from Wass, Molitor & Co.
At 22 grams, OK to put in a 'black' or souvenir collection, if bought at a fake price.
But this one is not really intended to be a fake.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Agree. Thanks for sharing!
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Valued Member
 United States
165 Posts |
"But this one is not really intended to be a fake."
So you're thinking that it was intended to be a souvenir. I wish I knew how old it was as this would help valuate it...
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
36710 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3343 Posts |
"Two minutes ago I would have sold my chances for a tired dime." Fred Astaire
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Valued Member
United States
165 Posts |
IndianGoldEagle, it's not a cast copy. If it were, then the 900 THOUS would still be that, not changed to POO THOUS. This was designed.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12057 Posts |
It is entirely possible that the area with the "900 THOUS" did not transfer correctly to the cast (or erosion die transfer.) Whomever did the work attempted to re-engrave the new die, but not being familiar with die engraving, engraved the numeral "9" backwards (it would appear as a 9 on the die but a P when struck.)
Member ANA - EAC - TNA - SSDC - CCT #890 "Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossible before they were done." -- Louis D. Brandeis Edited by paralyse
09/25/2019 6:20 pm
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Replies: 9 / Views: 5,834 |
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Posted 09/25/2019 12:39 am
