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1787 Massachusetts Cent Contemporary Counterfeit?
thefallengavel
Posts: 6 ✭
Anybody have an opinion on this piece? The obverse and reverse don't match anything I've been able to find in the Newman reference, notably with the reverse having the dot essentially on the arrow. Doesn't look like known contemporary counterfeits I've been able to find. No seam on edge, weight is 9.36 grams or 144.4 grains. Any definitive answer would be greatly appreciated!
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Interesting...I agree the reverse does not seem to match. Obverse similar to 4 in my quick look. The one in the date is also different with that lean to the left. I’m going to study this some more, but unless I’m missing something really obvious you possibly have something pretty cool here.
Thanks for taking a look! I did a bit of digging and from what I gathered from Crosby reference, of the Joseph Callender dies, there are records for three repaired dies and thirty-nine dies total, but only thirty-eight known. Not wanting to jump to conclusions, I figured its more likely this is a CC, a good one at that.
If that is a CC, it is really well done... Let us know what your research finds...Cheers, RickO
Just by looking at it I see nothing suspicious. Worth pursuing to get opinions from experts in that field, which I am not.
Ok I have an update here. In the Whitman encyclopedia the image for 1787 reverse C is incorrect. That’s why I couldn’t match it. This is a known reverse, Ryder C. The obverse I believe is 4, therefor it is a known variety, though the pictures in the major reference catalog are wrong.
I can see why you would be confused looking this one up. Check out this link for a high grade C reverse of 87.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/colonials/1787-1c-massachusetts-cent-arrows-in-left-talon-ryder-2-c-w-6050-r5-ms62-brown-ngc/a/1216-5694.s?ic4=ListView-ShortDescription-071515
At first I thought this was something really good. Sorry to be a downer!!
Yeeesss, thank you! Not a downer, just glad to know! Bummer that the pics in the references are wrong but good to know going forward.