need an identification

KEEWEE

I was rummaging through a box of tokens at a local coin shop recently and came across what I believe to be a "die" for a US half-dollar. It is very flat and appears to be made of bronze or copper or ??? It matches up well in terms of size, lettering, design, etc. with an actual half dollar. The die is features the reverse of a half dollar and carries the "S" mintmark. I researched a little and did find it would range from the years 1855-1866 because it has no "In God We Trust" motto and the San Francisco mintmark did not appear on these until 1855. Unfortunately, I have been unable to find any more info on whether this truly is a die (for lack of a better term) or if its counterfeit, or what. If its a counterfeit, its a darn good one. On the other side of it, there is just the faintest outline of the eagle and the writing, and what appear to be scrape-type marks in a uniform direction. On the edges of the die, there two flat areas opposite each other that stick out.

A picture can be seen in my yahoo photo album. I have to apologize because my scanner does not do this item justice. I had to lighten up the picture to get the details to show better, but in real life it is quite dark.

If anyone can tell me any more about this piece, please email me at jenerik@bright.net

Link for photo album: photos.yahoo.com/keewees_coins It will be the third item in the album.

Thanks
keewee

mgoodm3

MrEureka

First, it's not a die. A die is much taller than a coin. The item in your album looks most like a "hub impression", but it's certainly not real because mintmarks are not part of the hub. In short, the item is a privately made fabrication of no significant value. Still a cool toy, though.

darktone

Maybe it's one of those gaming tokens used in Germany? I have seen several made to look like classic US coinage. mike

MrEureka

Maybe it's one of those gaming tokens used in Germany? I have seen several made to look like classic US coinage.

Those gaming counters are not incused nor are they mirror images. They look (sort of) like real coins.

Gonfunko

Maybe it's part of an old mold used by some counterfeiter.

darktone

<< <i>Those gaming counters are not incused nor are they mirror images. They look (sort of) like real coins. >>

true but who knows what might escape quality control. Also what about the thought of it being cast in a high school metals shop?- a kid borrows his dads coin and makes a mold of it. mike

KEEWEE

OK, well that gives me more to go on than I had before. Thanks guys!

keewee