Need help with this 1806 half dollar

Romankow

HI everyone,

I bought this raw 1806 draped bust half dollar on ebay for my type collection. It is listed as a pointed 6 no stems variety.

It is 13.46g in weight, and seems genuine. I have attached pics for your review.

Can you please give me your thoughts? Genuine? Cleaned or not? Any other comments are welcomed.

Thanks!

David

coin22lover

Something is off...I wouldn't keep it.

Smudge

No expert here, but the stars look odd especially on the right. I will wait for the experts to chime in here.

DIMEMAN

I wouldn't keep it. On a coin like this I would wait and get a nice one in a PCGS holder. JMHO.

asheland

I'm afraid I agree with the others, something is really off about it. I would send it back. Get one slabbed so there's no worry...

BillJones

The digits in the date don’t look right. I’ve seen the star points stretch out on genuine coins, but no like that, and the unevenness in the edge letting concerns me.

Alltheabove76

Alltheabove76

Nysoto

Definitely fake. The 1806 O.109a die marriage was the basis for many counterfeits being sold as genuine on eBay. The transfer from O.109a was sloppy, a genuine coin will have clash marks above date, die crack along bottom of date. Stars and letters are wrong, edges wrong.

edited to add: this is not a contemporary counterfeit, it is a modern fake most likely made outside of US and sold through eBay. The DBH series has few contemporary counterfeits (made about the time of genuine US Mint striking). The CBH series has many contemporary counterfeits, and a book written on them. These fakes should be destroyed, but this will probably be resold again.

AUandAG

I would send it back with a recommendation to have it examined by a coin shop or have it graded. Then add this little note:

From ICTA (The Industry Council for Tangible Assets):
—————
Barry Ron Skog, 68, of Burnsville, Minn., pleaded guilty February 21 to one count of selling counterfeit coins and one count of mail fraud in the United States District Court of Minnesota in St. Paul.
Skog faces a potential maximum sentence of 15 years imprisonment on the count of selling counterfeit coins and a potential of 20 years maximum on the mail fraud count. He also faces fines of up to $250,000 for each count and mandatory restitution in amounts to be determined by the court.
No date has been set for sentencing.

Hemispherical

@Romankow

A coin like that I would not buy raw unless you are very experienced with Draped Busts.

Edit to add: An idea. Prior to bidding/buying post a pic on the forum and ask for opinions. Don’t post the auction URL, unless you want competition.

Good luck!

markelman1125

I recommend you wait a little and find a nice auction for one online were you can get a nice price for one. Hear is one I have

mikev50

i agree-find a better one-heres the one i have-pcgs-118a-shattered die-

BillJones

Unfortunately it’s very risky to buy raw coins like this in the Internet. You shouldn’t buy coins like this in person unless you have a fair amount of expertise.

My advice is, buy a coin that has been certified by a first or second tier grading firm. Crack it out if you have to put it in an album. Buying these coins raw without a personal examination has unfortunately become a folly.

Romankow

Thank you for all of your help, everyone!

What really sold me on thinking that it's authentic are the following:

1. Its weight (13.46 grams), which only 0.02 grams shy of the official weight for an authentic draped bust half.
2. The lettering on the edge, which would seem to be difficult to reproduce by a counterfeiter,

Anyway, I am humbled by all of your knowledge. Coin is packaged up already, ready to be returned to the seller.

--David

asheland

This is a great place for advice.

lkeigwin

You made the right decision (returning it). @Nysoto nailed it. No surprise.
Lance.

ricko

Good decision to return the coin.... along with the other inputs... the E in Liberty is very wrong....Cheers, RickO

skier07

The coin looks fake to me. The obverse looks like it has bubbling. Did you test the coin with a magnet?

Glad you’re returning it and please don’t buy raw coins like this again.

burfle23

Actually had a "family" of these show up for sale in an internet venue, dated 1802, 1803 and 1806:

One of the obvious details off compared to a genuine one is the arrow ends:

Aercus

@Romankow said:
Thank you for all of your help, everyone!

What really sold me on thinking that it's authentic are the following:

1. Its weight (13.46 grams), which only 0.02 grams shy of the official weight for an authentic draped bust half.
2. The lettering on the edge, which would seem to be difficult to reproduce by a counterfeiter,

Anyway, I am humbled by all of your knowledge. Coin is packaged up already, ready to be returned to the seller.

--David

You just avoided some expensive tuition. Good idea to ask for advice here, and glad you are returning it.