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 Replies: 19 / Views: 5,687 |
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New Member
United States
2 Posts |
I've been asked to identify the Overton variety of an 1825 half dollar. It doesn't seem to fit any of the 117 varieties in my Revised Edition of Overton. Any suggestions of what it might be?  |
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Pillar of the Community
3660 Posts |
Hi Vesta.....welcome.....Yes, there is a very good reason why it doesn't match up with anything in your Overton book.....(I'll bet you know what this is leading up to don't you)? Anyway, that coin is an extremely common contemporary counterfeit known today as Davignon variety 1825-1A. Don't feel silly about not being able to tell the difference between a counterfeit and the real deal.....That is one very, very good counterfeit, and would fool quite seasoned CBH collectors. The first one of this variety that I had previously seen belongs to my buddy Jim (okbustchaser) at Collector's Universe. Here is a picture of his coin:  Look familiar? |
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
3660 Posts |
I don't really think that "awe" is the appropriate emotion Dave....Just like you know certain vams on sight, and know certain counterfeits when you see them, I have seen the coin before....that's all. Hmmmmm...maybe I shouldn't have said that....(kinda down plays what little coin knowledge I actually do have)....  |
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New Member
United States
44 Posts |
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New Member
 United States
2 Posts |
I am so grateful for this help. I knew being a counterfeit was one possibility. My friend who owns it may be disappointed to know it's not authentic, but on the other hand it does make it sort of special. And I am HIGHLY impressed that someone was able to figure this out. Thank you. (And I apologize for writing about 117 varieties when I meant to say varieties through O117.)
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Pillar of the Community
3660 Posts |
No tip off slaufman.....I memorized all of the Overtons, and I knew that I had seen this coin before....I have a pretty good memory for things that interest me, and a counterfeit of this quality is very interesting.
Actually Vesta, your friend should not be disappointed....the coin is worn, and so in that condition, the counterfeit is probably more valuable than most genuine coins of this date....Believe it or not, there are folks who actually covet these things.
By the way, maybe your Overton book is sorta outdated?....(there has been an O-118 variety for quite a few years now).
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
zeewool since you know the Overtons better than I do could you help with this one. (I have no connection to this auction) http://cgi.ebay.com/1819-8-Large-9-...em2a0c6341acThe guy who consigned it to this guy conned a couple of us into providing a free attribution service for him but we could not identify this one (he made out like they were part of his collection when actually he wanted the numbers so the ebay seller could list them in the auctions.). I don't know where they got the O-101 but that is definitely wrong (Or the Overton book is wrong.) Edited by Conder101
12/10/2010 12:23 pm
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Pillar of the Community
3660 Posts |
Sure Conder...obviously the auction of O-101 is incorrect, and so may be the Overton book....I don't have one, but I did read the 4th edition once....I was not at all impressed, (written by some guy who doesn't know left from right) if you know what I mean.
The coin in that auction is definitely O-102.
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
The right-side base serifs of the T's on the reverse are a smoking gun attribute - definitely O-102.
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Pillar of the Community
3660 Posts |
I was unaware of that trivia point until just now.....you are right though, the right feet are sorta deformed on all of those Ts aren't they? Thanks for the pointer Dave.....I will remember that.
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
Overton, 3d Edition. His son-in-law, IMO, rather messed up the 4th Edition so the Third is my reference.
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Pillar of the Community
3660 Posts |
Quote:
His son-in-law, IMO Well, with a name like "IMO", you really can't expect too much out of the guy. Or is IMO his initials? Ignacio Marcello Overton maybe? |
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
 " In My Opinion," of course.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8904 Posts |
Ah, jocularity, jocularity! |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
O-102 had been my tentative attribution as well but in the Overton book it appeared that the 8 in the date was a block 8 while the 8 on the coin was a fancy 8.
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Replies: 19 / Views: 5,687 |
Posted 12/09/2010 9:35 pm
