Why Is One Of My 1897 Halfpennies Silver?

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Author	Replies: 9 / Views: 736
Windypops New Member United Kingdom 20 Posts	Posted 03/03/2024 3:19 pm Shouldn't halfpennies be bronze? I seem to have a silver one. Report this Post to the Staff

mrwhatisit Pillar of the Community United States 2953 Posts	Posted 03/03/2024 3:27 pm This halfpenny appears like it has been simply plated post mint... Report this Post to the Staff
John1 Moderator United States 56855 Posts	Posted 03/03/2024 4:56 pm Looks painted to me. John1 Report this Post to the Staff
Coinfrog Bedrock of the Community United States 94367 Posts	Posted 03/03/2024 5:11 pm Or plated. to the CCF! Edited by Coinfrog 03/03/2024 5:12 pm Report this Post to the Staff
Sap Moderator Australia 16806 Posts	Posted 03/03/2024 5:21 pm Painted or plated coins are a form of cheap counterfeit. Halfpennies are about the same size as shillings, and in 1897 they have an identical obverse design. It was common - and illegal - to paint or plate a halfpenny and try to pass it as a shilling. If a shopkeeper didn't notice the wrong size and lack of milled edge, they'd be down eleven and a half pence. Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis Report this Post to the Staff
Windypops New Member United Kingdom 20 Posts	Posted 03/03/2024 5:53 pm Does that mean it's worth more or less? Report this Post to the Staff
HondoB Bedrock of the Community United States 24939 Posts	Posted 03/03/2024 7:18 pm Windypops, if it's plated then it's worth less as that can't be removed without damaging the coin. If painted, perhaps it can be removed - try acetone. You may want to weigh it to make sure that it's a genuine coin. Inordinately fascinated by bits of metal with strange markings and figures Report this Post to the Staff
Sap Moderator Australia 16806 Posts	Posted 03/03/2024 9:53 pm Since a painted or plated coin technically falls under the category of "counterfeit", legally it has zero value because selling a counterfeit coin is technically illegal. In practice, while "contemporary counterfeit" coins can be worth something to a collector, a painted coin is not - there's no way for you or anybody else to guarantee that the painting actually happened back in the 1890s, and not last week. Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis Report this Post to the Staff
Errers and Varietys Bedrock of the Community United States 73688 Posts	Posted 03/03/2024 11:21 pm Looks like it was plated. Errers and Varietys. Report this Post to the Staff
IndianGoldEagle Bedrock of the Community United States 36558 Posts	Posted 03/05/2024 1:37 pm Definitely plated. Report this Post to the Staff
	Replies: 9 / Views: 736

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