1851 G$1 - Authentic?

cheezhed

Probably hard to tell from the pics but any opinions?

richardshipp

I'm guessing "not real".

lcoopie

<< <i>I'm guessing "not real". >>

AngryTurtle

Not an expert, but pitted surfaces seem to be a give away, as well as missing dentils, e.g. "not real"

SilverEagles92

I'd guess cast copy?

notwilight

If presented with that dollar I'd post a picture here and wait for the experts.

When the experts show up, please post your response as:

"________________, not a guess".


--Jerry

cheezhed

What look like pits are small dings and hits, coin was in jewelry bezel.

Note die break at bottom of obverse star at 3:00.

LanLord

<< <i>What look like pits are small dings and hits, coin was in jewelry bezel.

Note die break at bottom of obverse star at 3:00. >>

I agree with this - seems okay from an authentic standpoint, but someone had it around their neck at one time (or some other place )

jessecarlk

I too believe this to be authentic. Many gold dollars are weak at the date, including this one.

PerryHall

Real but has baggy surfaces probably from jewelry use as others have pointed out. For a few bucks more you could buy a much nicer coin.

tightbudget

Real but badly beat up

cheezhed

<< <i>Real but has baggy surfaces probably from jewelry use as others have pointed out. For a few bucks more you could buy a much nicer coin. >>



I didn't have a few bucks more.

CaptHenway

Genuine, ex-jewelry.
TD

Frankcoins

Likely genuine, but in a screw top bezel for many years as jewelry.

GoldenEyeNumismatics

I actually can't decide at all one this one. I'm totally 50/50

sumnom

Is everyone comfortable with the bits of missing bow and ribbon?

fruitloops

At first I thought it had pitted services as well...which would mean a cast counterfeit, cast pit "bubbles" and such

Actually, I vote with some of the rest of the people. It doesn't look right...I had a bad gut feeling when I first saw it. The stars do not seem too well defined for one...

darktone

I don't think that is die brake on the obverse star at 3:00. It's a result of the counterfiet die making process. It usually comes off the stars and goes towards the rim.

PerryHall

<< <i>I don't think that is die brake on the obverse star at 3:00. It's a result of the counterfiet die making process. It usually comes off the stars and goes towards the rim. >>



It's definitely a die crack and the coin is real. I've seen many, many fake gold dollars and they all were mint state or close to mint state and all were relatively free of marks.

Steve27

I'm bothered by the lack of dentils. Here's a real one (cleaned and ex-jewelry), but the dentils are all well defined:

PerryHall

<< <i>Is everyone comfortable with the bits of missing bow and ribbon? >>



This coin was struck with a die near the end of it's service life. It had been heavily polished which removed some of the design detail similar to the 1922 no D cent and the 3 legged Buffalo nickel.

ambro51

There are three pages of diagnostics for counterfeit 1851 gold dollars in the Fivaz manual, and your coin shows none of them. If this is a raw coin, you could check the weight, which should be 1.672 grams with a tolerance of 0.016. Diameter will be 13 mm (and exactly 13 mm) Take a good look at your reeding also. I think you should submit this for grading, Im sure its authentic but calling a grade would be tough. There are a few things going on with the rims, maybe NGC may be a better slab for this. Also, there are an abnormally high amount of teeeeeeny nicks on the coin, not typical circulation contacts. I think too it is ex jewelry, in a good encasement but possibly part of a charm bracelet tha saw all this contact. It may have been MS and new when encased, since Liberty is still visible as is a lot of hair detail. The reverse color patterns make me think some cleaning is involved with this coin, more patina toward the protected areas of the letters. The reverse lack of detail is just what happens when a die is relapped.

I like the look of the coin and Im sure with less magnification and a kinder light it is a pretty coin. Enjoy it, but if you start to collect gold dollars seriously, only get TPG coins. There are SO many questions which a slab puts to rest, and it increases the value on these coins. Like that 1851 you show, I dont know the price, but last week I bought one too, for my set, a pcgs AU55 from Barry Stuppler. ....he says its PQ and in my gold experience with him Im sure it will be superb. That was 239. So for these common date gold dollars, just get them slabbed. What really amazed me was that in both counterfeit books I have, as gold dollars go, the common dates are the ones that are faked. There are a lot to choose from raw but really why bother?

sinin1

I am leaning toward questionable authenticity, because of the weak strike near bow with full lettering of one dollar



but why does it matter?


a $100 coin tops, that is just plain ugly


I am not sure I would want it if you gave it to me - I might use it to by a double cheesburger at McD's (unless in hand I was sure it was counterfeit)

ambro51

Ill bet you couldnt get the kid at McD's to take a gold dollar.

Ill be if you handed the kid the finest 1854 proof......a 350K coin....he would say 'uhhhhhh I cant take this"

Actually there is weakness is in DOLLAR also, and thats all typical. Id be more skeptical if the legend and lettering was well struck up and strong (Like the 'genuine' counterfeit i had done the macros on. Nothing weak about that reverse, nothing real either.