How much is a fake coin worth?

Petescorner

This one is bringing pretty good money. I wouldn't think people would pay hundreds of dollars for a copy.

Auction

Russ

It's because the seller put a "?" in the title.

Russ, NCNE

barberlover

that depends on what you mean by fake. example; an altered date liberty nickel that reads 1913 but was really a 1912 with an altered date might be considered fake but what about a real 1913 liberty nickle struck by a janitor at the mint without government approval. if one came on the market now it wold bring about 2-4 million at auction. but since hat coin was struck without govrnment approval, shouldn't they be considered fake?

FatMan

Fakes are like costume jewelry. For the informed fakes have little value but for metal content. What I fear is that these bidders see a good fake and see $ signs. Apparently the bidders feel they can sell this as authentic. Their intentions are clear to me. Someone is going to get scammed here. Maybe not today, but soon.

BigD5

I have a counterfeit IHC, and have received quite a few offers ranging from $25-$100 for the coin. I don't have any interest in selling the coin right now, but there is a market for that kind of stuff. All legal-beagle stuff aside.

Dukie101

Check this guy out for FAKES

CLICK HERE

braddick

I bought one of those Counterfeit Trade dollars to match a set of Morgan/ Peace/ Seated and Bust counterfeits I own.
The Seller shipped quickly (from overseas) and his communications were excellent- even providing a tracking number. All this on a $15.00 "coin"!

I checked his one negative feedback (recent) and noticed the buyer neg'ed him for the Trade being a counterfeit. What did he expect? The Seller stated it was and did the buyer really think he was getting a MS60 CC Trade dollar for a BIN of $13.99?
(The only satisfaction is reading the responding feedback right back at the buyer!)

In answer to your question though: Counterfeits are not really worth anything as far as value, but may have a place in a collection and thus a price tag.

berrydingle

Phony coins remind me of breast implants, that is....
From a certain distance they lQQk great!!!
however upon further examination they become an eyesore.

There's nothing that can compare to the real thing, no matter how Small the demonination and,
NO substitutions

relayer

Duke-

The guy over in Singapore must be saying to himself "Man what a country". You show a picture a fake coin. You tell them you think it's a fake coin. But throw in one UPPERCASE SENTENCE OF HYPE and the bidders fight over it.

It's hard to find compassion for person who buys a coin from an ad that says it's a fake, only to leave a complaint saying "This coin is a fake." I wonder at what point they realized they were buying a fake?

I like the one that says "...THERE WHERE NO 1880-S (trade dollars) MINTED" That's funny.

ajaan

The coin originally asked about by Petescorner is not a typical 'fake'. It is more accurately described as a contempory countefeit. Many of these coins will sell for far above the price a 'real' Brithish halfpenny of the error. Some of these coins were minted in New York in the 1770s and are called Machin's Mills coins. For more information on these look in a Red Book under colonial New York coins.

If this is a Machin's Mill coin it is probably worth $600+

Russ

<< <i>ITS A LOVELY SPECIMEN AND WILL COMPLIMENT ANY COLLECTION. >>



So, when you put it in the album does it tell the other coins how pretty they are?

Russ, NCNE

pennypop

I agree with (Ajaan) if it is a contempory conterfit then it may well be worth more than the original coin of the same date. Your modern copies are worthless true, but if this coin was conterfited around the same time of the original coinage, then just like other coins it would depend on how many fakes were found. It may turn out that one or two known fakes have more value than one of say 400 good true coins. Of course that is the apealability of coin collecting to have the very best, the one of one, so a true conterfit that was done at or close to the time of issue, may well be worth a good deal to that collector. Just my two cents worth

abuell

Counterfeit halfpennies are worth far more than genuine ones and are truly hot right now. This one is particularly nice and is priced right. The bidders know what they are doing.

Petescorner

Thanks for all the responses! I never would have thought that counterfeits could be worth more than originals. What a great source for information this forum is!

Conder101

Counterfeit, Yes. Contemporary, No. The style and lettering is definitely not right to be a contemporary counterfeit. This is a much more recent fake and not worth onything close to what it is bringing.

Gemini

According to the Anton and Kesse book "Forgotten Coins of the North American Colonies" there are 252 varieties of this date.

I have an interest in these pieces but I am no expert on these and with a Web TV screen identification is not an easy task.

Rather than go bleary eyed as I already am I have sought the help and e-mailed one of the bidders who is according to his e-bay "View about me" profile is a dealer and specialist on these.

I asked him for his opinion on the piece and why he feels this is a contemporary counterfeit.

I will post his reply to the forum as soon as it is received.

Don-

dorkkarl

the price seems in-line to me, if it is a contemporary c/f. keep in mind, machin's mills are contemporary counterfeits, & look at their prices.

K S

dorkkarl

ps: the coin does appears as a c/f to me, but the "?" may be whether it is a contemporary copy, or a modern 1. a modern copy/electro would be worthy maybe $5-$25.

K S

Gemini

I just received a reply from Clem the bidder an expert on these pieces...

Reply:

Nice coin! This is not a Machins Mill, counterfeit British halfpenny made in America, but is a contemporary counterfeit British halfpenny. It belongs in a Family that we have tentatively named the Longneck Family; I have given it the temporary variety designation of 5-C. There are presently 9 different varieties, which I have identified, in this relatively small Family of counterfeits.
This particular variety would make a nice upgrade for ME but I'm afraid that the price has already exceeded what I would pay, and I'm one of the strongest buyers of these things here in the States. I see that a fellow researcher is the high bidder and an arch nemesis of ours is the underbidder at present, the outcome should prove interesting, but the bidding may actually be already over, as I said I think it has already been bid to the max.
I have attached my example of 5-C and a few others of the Family, from my personal collection, for comparison. Most of the members of this Family have very similar obverses and reverses; the 5-C reverse is a bit of an exception.
I hope this helps. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions, or information, about this series in the future.
Actually I've attached my 5-C here and will send a few more separately as the images are high-res and rather large.
Best regards,
Clem

rays

Some contemporary counterfeits are highly collectable. The "Dr. Edwards" copies of the 1796 with pole half cent made in the late 18th century routinely bring prices over 4 figures. Even electrotypes of early US copper coins, if well-done, are oftentimes worth several hundred dollars.

Gemini

Please visit Clems site many photos of Colonials and History of them there...

http://www.geocities.com./copperclem/

abuell

Clem knows c/f 1/2d!

dorkkarl

trivial aside: the correct name is "Machin's Mills. it is too-often written improperly as "machins mill" w/ no "s" at the end.

K S