Off-Metal 1854 2½ Dollar Liberty
Coins4Eli
Posts: 24 ✭✭
Hello, I just recently purchased a large group of shield and liberty nickels, after I started sorting them I came across this piece. It has the design of an 1854 2½ Dollar gold piece, but its not made of gold. I right now suspect that it may be a contemporary counterfeit, but also the thought that it way be a pattern or die trial has popped through my mind. I am currently looking for just a solid opinion on what it is. I am also wondering why on earth it was worn down so much.
Now down to the specifics, I weighed it and quickly scanned it with the XRF gun, here are the results:
Weight: 2.67g
Diameter: 18.0mm
Metal Content
Copper: 63.49%
Zinc: 22.12%
Nickel: 14.38%
Note: The edge is reeded, and upon comparing it to a known genuine piece I have noted that the spacing is the same.
All opinions and comments apricated! 
Member of Early American Coppers (EAC), American Numismatic Association (ANA), and Missouri Numismatic Society (MNS). Specializing in early American copper by die variety.
Comments
I'm also assuming a contemporary counterfeit, but it sure isn't a common one!
Certainly looks like a contemporary counterfeit to me.
The obverse start between 12:00 and 2:00 confirm for me its bogus status (coupled with everything else). I'd imagine it is a somewhat valuable piece with the right collectors.
peacockcoins
The level of wear evident is just as surprising as the piece itself.
I guess the new off metal is any classic coin not in its proper alloy, good to know says the newbie know it all with 14 posts, do we have to suffer through this crap again, it seems to never end
I would guess contemporary counterfeit too. The amount of wear on the coin is very interesting though.
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That is really interesting!
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Counterfeit, someone's pocket piece my best guess. Interesting.
Please offer your opinion of the coin.
Very interesting piece. That amount of wear is very interesting. It would take a long time to wear down that much as a pocket piece.
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Very cool contemporary counterfeit.
Real or not, I sure wish it had an S mintmark!
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Way out of my playing field but i cannot find anything about an off metal 2 1/2 d coin in my Breen Encyclopedia. James
Maybe I jumped the shark, and thus my apologies to the op, due to so many bogus trolls popping up so frequently these days and I consequently I inadvertently thought it was occurring once again here, but after rereading the op's post I see where I went wrong. As to what this coin stands at, I am on board with a contemporary counterfeit for the following reasons:
the design is off which I feel is obvious but obviously passable in circulation at the time
and it is also obvious that it isn't gold .And lastly the condition is also suspect imo, the extreme wear makes it impossible to diagnose any further (which cannot be a coincidence) other than alloy testing and I believe that I can stop there.
Are we ignoring the possibility that it was a jeton rather than a "counterfeit"? I suppose that is still basically a counterfeit but the purpose of manufacture is different.
I would agree that it is likely a contemporary counterfeit. Very cool piece.
It would be better if you could make out an S.
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Look on the site badmetalcoin.com. Winston Zack has examples of contemporary counterfeits for sale.
Fascinating piece!
i posted one of these a couple years ago with zero fanfare.
HE>I
Real or not, it's an interesting conversation piece!
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And rightly so, I would have zero interest in such a piece, but because of the op's title to his thread it made me curious otherwise I would have passed on it
Likely eventually entered circulation stream as a “dime”.
Agreed, I just realized a little bit ago that they are the exact same size.
Member of Early American Coppers (EAC), American Numismatic Association (ANA), and Missouri Numismatic Society (MNS). Specializing in early American copper by die variety.