put a grade on this 1881 $5

darktone · March 30, 2004 11:47AM

Here's a picture of the obverse. I am not going to post a reverse picture because it's the typical better looking by a point or two than the obverse. Anyone have some close up pictures of the 1881/0 they can post? I'll tell you what I grade it later. Thanks mike

ss350camaro · March 30, 2004 11:49AM

counterfiet

cohodk · March 30, 2004 11:55AM

au-53

ConstellatioCollector · March 30, 2004 11:55AM

ss350

Why counterfeit?

RYK · March 30, 2004 11:56AM

darktone · March 30, 2004 12:05PM

Here's a close up of the date that shows remnants of wide repunching in the loops of the 8's and the top of the 1 can be seen part of another 1 sticking up and if you look close enough it stands out pretty good. mike

ss350camaro · March 30, 2004 12:17PM

I'm no expert by any means.
Those are some of the most counterfieted "gold" coins around.
I've had two fakes. This one quite possibly could be real but one of the first things i look at is the hair curls on the neck. A flat, or somewhat "non-detailed" look to them would be a clue. Worn coins make it really hard to tell. Sometimes it's hard to tell from a pic though.
Most fakes are actually done in real gold.

I hope it's real.

mgoodm3 · March 30, 2004 12:21PM

MS63.

Veep · March 30, 2004 12:29PM

I can't link it, but did see at least four 1881/0 half eagles on Heritage's Auction Archive. Search on Liberty Half Eagles and put 1881 in the bottom box. After seeing those, I would say that yours is not an 81/0. The telltale sign on all of the Heritage images seems to be a spur rising up from the right side of the base of the one.