Anybody know what this 1776 dated coin is?

Russ

It's about the same diameter as a nickel, but thinner. Seems to be made of brass. I think it might be very rare and valuable.

Russ, NCNE

jonesy

It's not valuable.
Glenn

Russ

It has to be valuable. It's dated over 200 years ago and is in perfect condition.

Russ, NCNE

sinin1

I think you might be right - what does the other side look like?

Russ

It says something about history and has an eagle like the one on early coins.

Russ, NCNE

cladking

Russ: Is that your new accented hair icon?

The '77 "medal" looks familiar but I don't recognize it. Of course it
was probably made during the bicentennial era.

tjkillian

Show us the reverse so we can be "in" on the joke.

Tom

FrattLaw

Does it have a "die crack" running from some founding father's private parts to the top of Indepenence Hall on the other side?

Though come to think of it that bell whatcamacallit thingy has a great crack running through it. Is that a Pissing Bell half?

Michael

Russ

What joke? You guys are mean. This came from my Grandpa's collection and he used to be a traveling salesman. It's all he left me when he passed on from this world, and I cherish it.

Russ, NCNE

BigE

It can't be old, the bell isn't funky enough-------------BigE

PhillyJoe

No accented hair; can't help out. No full bell lines, either. Hmmm. I wonder what the reverse says? He didn't get this from the National Mint did he?

Joe

BillJones

Several points.

 The Liberty Bell was not famous during the Revolutionary period. It was just bell that was in the tower at Independence Hall.

 The Liberty Bell probably broke in the 1830s perhaps when it was rung during Chief Justice John Marshall’s funeral.

 The crack was hollowed out from an original hairline crack in a vain attempt to restore its ring.

 The Liberty did not become famous until the 1850s when abolition groups used it as a symbol for their movement.

 The fabric of this coin is all wrong for the 1776 era.

Conclusion: This piece was made sometime well after the Revolutionary War period.

Russ

No, no, no! It's OLD! Just look at the toning.

Russ, NCNE

BigE

It looks like Mrs Havershams hair dye, I guess it could be old--------------BigE

abuell

The obverse die must have failed quite early - just look at the huge crack in the bell. I've never seen one so it must be unique. What do you think it will slab? Must be a top pop (or is it a pop top?)

VonZipper

That's one of those give away tokens from taco bell in the late 70's.


And I think it is really valuable if there is no taco juice on it to create AT.

satootoko

Hey Russ - today is the ides of April, not the first of April.

Russ

You people are harsh. I come for answers, and you make fun of me.

Russ, NCNE

Russ

Does nobody have an answer for me? I feel so abandoned. Karl? Karl? Where are you Karl?

Russ, NCNE

VonZipper

My answer is send to PCGS for authentication and grading.

MadMonk

That's a very rare Habberscam pattern 2 if there is an eagle on the opp side. The type 1 has a Turkey. The type 3 has an two eagles . Again, very rare indeed. Alexander Hamilton and Ben Franklin Collaborated on the design, subsequently having them struck for Habberscam. There were three patterns, and very few trial strikes. There are a few varieties known to exist in France.
DeGaul was the last known owner. Yours actually looks like the piece he owned.
I think at auction, you'd may vet well realize about $43,000.00.
Don't listen to all the naysayers. Just give it a good scrubbing with a brillo pad, and you might get about 10% more than my estimate.

Russ

Finally, an answer! Thank you! I'll let it go for half that auction estimate.

Russ, NCNE

LucyBop

what a big toad!

cdmead

Actually, if it's the DeGaul piece, you might have legal issues. Apparently, the Nazis stole it during World War 2, where the coin was used as an ornament on Hitler's Christmas tree. After the war, it was rumored to have been secreted to Moscow where Stalin used it as a golf ball marker. It's history is lost after that, but the French have claimed it to be a cultural icon and will prosecute the current owner under the Oslo Accords unless the coin is returned immediately.

cladking

Perhaps more of it's true value might be realized in a trade.

Do you have any interest in Babylonian tokens?