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 Replies: 17 / Views: 2,080 |
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New Member
United States
2 Posts |
Hello everyone. This is my first post on this site and I am, admittedly, still a novice. I am, however, a quick study and I do my homework, too. I don't know enough about these draped bust silver half dollars and dollars that were in circulation around the time of the conception of the United States as a nation and I want to make sure this appears to be a legitimate specimen before bidding on it as such. This coin is part of a lot in an auction this weekend and I want to be certain it's not counterfeit. This auction house has, at times, received counterfeit coins in the past. They auction off police seizures and neither the police nor the auction house tend to pay someone to authenticate such items except for in special circumstances. You would think the police would be a bit more concerned with seizing and reporting counterfeit coins to the Secret Service but, alas, no. Anyway, thank you all in advance for your help.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11886 Posts |
I don't think it's possible to authenticate based on that one picture. If that is all you have to go by, I would pass on this lot. Lots of replicas of this coin floating around.
IN NECESSARIIS UNITAS - IN DUBIIS LIBERTAS - IN OMNIBUS CARITAS THE MAN IN THE ARENA, Theodore Roosevelt at the Sorbonne Paris on April 23, 1910: " It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat." My coin website: https://fairfaxcoins.com |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11886 Posts |
IN NECESSARIIS UNITAS - IN DUBIIS LIBERTAS - IN OMNIBUS CARITAS THE MAN IN THE ARENA, Theodore Roosevelt at the Sorbonne Paris on April 23, 1910: " It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat." My coin website: https://fairfaxcoins.com |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
646 Posts |
Welcome to CCF! I agree, if that is the only picture you have to go off of, I'd pass.
Edited by Wideglide
03/11/2023 2:32 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Agree, walk away.  to the CCF! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2281 Posts |
Hard pass
You realize when you know how to think, it empowers you far beyond those who know only what to think.
-Neil deGrasse Tyson
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12057 Posts |
Simple question to ask yourself: am I willing to risk $2500-$3000 or more on a damaged coin that's worth $0 if it's a fake? Especially given the fact that counterfeits outnumber real coins? It's called "acceptable risk" and only you can decide. If the answer to that is "no", then walk away. There's no way I'd buy a coin like this that wasn't already in a TPG holder unless I had many years of experience with early dollars and was very well versed in die marriages and the like, and could make a positive match. That being said, last time I was at the Bellagio (2010) I was with my dad playing $40/hand blackjack, which was a high bet vs. my usual $10 or $20 hands. A nice gentleman came and sat down directly left of me, "colored" $2,000 (20 black chips), and proceeded to bet the entire stack of 20 on a single hand with the next deal. He was dealt a 14 (6,8) and the next card was a king. He very politely thanked the dealer and walked off. Didn't seem the least bit bothered. Somewhat shocked, I asked our dealer if this was common, and she told me it happens a lot more than I might expect, and that the gentleman in question would likely be going around and doing the same in the future. So yes, there are some folks who are totally fine with risking thousands of dollars on a single bet. I'm just not one of them. 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
03/11/2023 4:10 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1143 Posts |
Would agree that you should pass on the lot. I would rather rather spend more knowing what I have than risk ending up with something worthless.
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New Member
 United States
2 Posts |
I appreciate everyone's input. That is actually only one of probably about 100 coins in the lot and the bid is just around about $500 right now. So, maybe not quite the gamble I may have inadvertently made it appear to be initially.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4233 Posts |
Uh, doesn't this look like a reeded edge? It's supposed to have a lettered edge.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
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Moderator
 United States
34409 Posts |
You can do better @jc. I would only purchase this coin if it was slabbed.  "If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3848 Posts |
Quote:
Uh, doesn't this look like a reeded edge? It's supposed to have a lettered edge. Good eye, that almost confirms it is counterfeit, unless it is an illusion. Suffering from bust half fever. Want to learn how to attribute early half dollars by die variety? Click Here: http://goccf.com/t/434955Shoot me a PM if you are looking to sell bust halves. |
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
18664 Posts |
with you last photo...counterfeit. sad someone is going to ripped off if the rest of the coins in the lot are not worth what they bid.
side note: there are literally thousands and thousands of counterfeits out there. neither police nor any government entity have the resources to devote to policing the sale of these. its up to the buyer to determine authentication if the coin is not slabbed. I'm glad you posted here before bidding.
unless you are well versed in counterfeits and/or grading coins of any series I would suggest posting raw coins here first for anything of value. always post both of a coin
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
36745 Posts |
There's enough there in the photos to say this one is fake.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2365 Posts |
I too would back-pedal on that one. Sorry. If that were from the Camelback Auction then it may be worth the risk. Ofcourse, I believe that the Camelback Auctions are more legit than how you've described this one.
Edited by dsking
03/12/2023 6:20 pm
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Replies: 17 / Views: 2,080 |
Posted 03/11/2023 2:18 pm
