| Author |
 Replies: 35 / Views: 2,130 |
|
Valued Member
United States
134 Posts |
Hi all, I am enjoying posting and all of your responses. Here is my next... Looks as if this 1870 Liberty Seated dollar is a fake. Can you all help me confirm? The coloring is way off and the shortest arrow on the reverse...doesn't appear that the arrow shaft goes all the way to the tip as is in the pics I've see on PCGS. Let me know what you think. Thanks   |
|
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
 United States
24939 Posts |
Looks like it's a copper reproduction. What is the weight and diameter?
Inordinately fascinated by bits of metal with strange markings and figures
|
|
Valued Member
 United States
134 Posts |
forgive my ignorance if my units of measurements are not numismatically correct but here goes...
weight - .9 oz or 27g
diameter - 1.5 inches/3.81cm/38.1mm
thank you
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4233 Posts |
Weight should be 26.73 and diameter 38.1, so it seems to be spot on if your scale isn't that accurate. I don't know what to make of this one. It doesn't look blatantly fake to me. There were some 1870 pattern coins.  Is the edge reeded? Edited by kbbpll
01/15/2024 2:16 pm
|
|
Valued Member
United States
134 Posts |
thanks kbbpll. The scale was actually fluctuating between 26 and 27, so my scale might be a little off but not to far off :) .
The edge is reeded.
Thanks
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
36558 Posts |
Is this the actual color of the coin?
|
|
Valued Member
United States
134 Posts |
@IndianGoldEagle.
Yes...this is the actual color. That is what is throwing me off here on whether real or fake.
P.S. any suggestions of better picture taking (taking our of 2x2, I understand)? I'm using an iPhone.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3848 Posts |
If it is a counterfeit, it was produced from dies or a mold of a genuine example. I am assuming this example is copper plated. Do you see any small areas in which the silver metal pokes through the plating? Maybe a contact mark on the rim that damaged the plating.
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. |
|
Valued Member
United States
134 Posts |
@jacrispies - I don't see anything poking thru and it doesn't "appear" to be plated. I had it under a coin microscope and can't see plating marks and edges look good too but again the color is so strong, its maybe a VERY good counterfeit.
Thank you for looking...
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4233 Posts |
If this was your grandfather's, did he leave any documentation? I'm wondering if it was lacquered or coated with stain, resulting in this color. It has streaks like a woodie but that may just be something applied to the coin. Lacquering coins was very common back in the day. You could soak it in acetone for a while and see if it starts coming off. Let's see what others think about that idea.
Edit - I'll add that you shouldn't rub or scrub it. You might gently roll a q-tip soaked in acetone over it during the acetone bath. I don't want to be giving bad advice either so wait for others.
Edited by kbbpll
01/15/2024 3:41 pm
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3848 Posts |
Perhaps the small damage on the right side of both obverse and reverse is from alligator clips when dipping this coin into a solution for electrolysis?
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. |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4468 Posts |
Quote:
If this was your grandfather's, did he leave any documentation? I'm wondering if it was lacquered or coated with stain, resulting in this color. It has streaks like a woodie but that may just be something applied to the coin. Lacquering coins was very common back in the day. You could soak it in acetone for a while and see if it starts coming off. Let's see what others think about that idea. I agree, I would soak the coin in Acetone. The coin appears to be genuine. |
|
Moderator
United States
187702 Posts |
A very interesting example.  Recommending acetone, yes; scrubbing, no. |
|
Pillar of the Community
Taiwan
606 Posts |
Edited by Everest
01/15/2024 4:50 pm
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3848 Posts |
The color of this piece is not consistent of coins from that era, having strange patterns, you would think the color would be even.
Copper has a density less than silver, so the coin weighing exactly as it should if it were silver is a big red flag.
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. |
|
Valued Member
United States
134 Posts |
To soak or not to soak? That is the question. I'm torn at this point.
|
| |
Replies: 35 / Views: 2,130 |
Posted 01/15/2024 1:33 pm
