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1921 Peace Dollar 'Copy'

cmerlo1cmerlo1 Posts: 7,919 ✭✭✭✭✭

I thought I'd post this 1921 Peace dollar that was given to me by my good friend @shortnock. I consider it to be rare, as it actually has the word 'COPY' on the reverse, when so many out there don't. Interestingly, it looks like 'COPY', which is raised, might have been added after the coin was made, as at an angle you can see a seam between the letters and the field. I guess the question here is, why was this made?


You Suck! Awarded 6/2008- 1901-O Micro O Morgan, 8/2008- 1878 VAM-123 Morgan, 9/2022 1888-O VAM-1B3 H8 Morgan | Senior Regional Representative- ANACS Coin Grading. Posted opinions on coins are my own, and are not an official ANACS opinion.

Comments

  • CaptHenwayCaptHenway Posts: 32,287 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Why was it made? To separate fools from their money.

    Numismatist. 50 year member ANA. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner numerous NLG Literary Awards.
  • JBKJBK Posts: 15,752 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Another bit of trivia....

    As I understand it, the HPA requires that the word copy be stamped into the coin, with the letters being a certain minimum height and the stamping being a certain measurement deep.

    So, I believe the maker of your replica was still breaking the law.

  • cmerlo1cmerlo1 Posts: 7,919 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @JBK said:
    Another bit of trivia....

    As I understand it, the HPA requires that the word copy be stamped into the coin, with the letters being a certain minimum height and the stamping being a certain measurement deep.

    So, I believe the maker of your replica was still breaking the law.

    I didn't realize it had to be stamped. I'm really tempted to soak it in acetone to see if they come off.

    You Suck! Awarded 6/2008- 1901-O Micro O Morgan, 8/2008- 1878 VAM-123 Morgan, 9/2022 1888-O VAM-1B3 H8 Morgan | Senior Regional Representative- ANACS Coin Grading. Posted opinions on coins are my own, and are not an official ANACS opinion.
  • shortnockshortnock Posts: 419 ✭✭✭

    Nice photos, as usual by Christian. This specimen will not take a magnet. Has a higher-pitched ring-tone.

  • airplanenutairplanenut Posts: 22,179 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Interestingly the obverse bust looks quite good, but the eagle's face and feet look awful.

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  • JimnightJimnight Posts: 10,846 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Practice piece for the counterfeiters.

  • Namvet69Namvet69 Posts: 9,052 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Yup, I zoomed in on the feet first. And that face looks empty. Peace Roy

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  • abcde12345abcde12345 Posts: 3,404 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Jimnight said:
    Practice piece for the counterfeiters.

    :o

  • MedalCollectorMedalCollector Posts: 1,988 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @cmerlo1 said:
    Interestingly, it looks like 'COPY', which is raised, might have been added after the coin was made, as at an angle you can see a seam between the letters and the field.

    “COPY” appears to have been imparted by the original die, not an after-the-fact application. A raised counter-punch that high in relief would have caused much distortion on both faces of the coin, which are not present.

  • Cougar1978Cougar1978 Posts: 8,319 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Assuming “Copy” was added at some latter time it probably fooled a lot of them back in the day.

    Coins & Currency
  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭

    That was not added afterwards...surface surrounding it would be distended. Cheers, RickO

  • EXOJUNKIEEXOJUNKIE Posts: 1,618 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @cmerlo1 said:
    I'm really tempted to soak it in acetone to see if they come off.

    Do it! >:)

    I'm addicted to exonumia ... it is numismatic crack!

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  • BLUEJAYWAYBLUEJAYWAY Posts: 9,436 ✭✭✭✭✭

    The eagle sure looks angry.

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