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Bogus is beautiful
rhedden
Posts: 6,632 ✭✭✭✭✭
I have been looking for a bogus bust half (contemporary counterfeit) to add to my mostly VF-AU set. Since many of these are crude fakes in low grades, and most have damage, I decided to look for a die-struck coin that had nice surfaces, yet showed signs of extensive circulation, confirming that it had fooled many people in its heyday. This 1837 popped up on a Sunday morning on eBay, and I just thought that the 1837 date was an added bonus, extending my Capped Bust collection one year past when the mint stopped producing these. The surfaces look just like I would expect on an authentic, original, never-cleaned 1836 half in F-12, so it fit the bill perfectly. I'm not sure the seller was aware it's a fake, as there was no indication on the flip or in the auction. Unless I'm mistaken, it's Davignon 2-B (pop. 10 to 20 known, but probably growing). It's common by bogus bustie standards, but not one of the "extremely common" varieties that account for most of the known bogus specimens. So here you go, the lone counterfeit coin that I have ever deliberately purchased. I definitely approve of it, but I doubt PCGS would. 
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<< <i> I definitely approve of it, but I doubt PCGS would.
i don't know, they've put some strange things into holders.
.
You might want to neutralize what looks like PVC by the date.
-Paul
I agree it's a 2-B. Fairly easy to say. Only two '37s in Davignon's book are "50 C."
Lance.
<< <i>Yeah, that could use some acetone and a Q-tip if it's PVC. However, you have to consider the distinct possibility that it's not PVC, and the coin is turning green because it's 60% copper. These were struck in all kinds of metals. >>
If it doesn't come off with acetone, then you might try Verdicare. Verdigris is just as damaging.
Lance.
eventhough they stopped doing it in 1836.
I wonder why?
The name is LEE!
Only PCGS AU58 CAC gold sticker coins generate warm fuzzy feelings on this board. Everything else is crap.
Although bogus busties are by no means authentic US currency, they sure fooled a lot of people in the 1840s and 1850s (perhaps beyond), and have a proper place alongside US numismatics as illegitimate exonumia. These were not produced to fool collectors, but to be passed off as real 50 cent pieces in commerce. Evidently, a lot of merchants were duped, as most of them are circulated to death. 50 cents was a lot of money back then, so skimming a 20 cent profit off each coin would have been quite lucrative.
Going back to the green corrosion spot, it makes me wonder what kind of metal is actually in these things. Watch it be a lead/mercury amalgam, and I will die of heavy metal poisoning after handling it.
Supposedly these contemporary counterfeits were so widespread, and so readily accepted, that at times there were more counterfeits circulating that real ones.
They're cool pieces and very collectible. David Kahn usually has a handful for sale.
Lance.
<< <i>I'm not getting a warm fuzzy feeling about this thread. I wonder why?
Only PCGS AU58 CAC gold sticker coins generate warm fuzzy feelings on this board. Everything else is crap.
Although bogus busties are by no means authentic US currency, they sure fooled a lot of people in the 1840s and 1850s (perhaps beyond), and have a proper place alongside US numismatics as illegitimate exonumia. These were not produced to fool collectors, but to be passed off as real 50 cent pieces in commerce. Evidently, a lot of merchants were duped, as most of them are circulated to death. 50 cents was a lot of money back then, so skimming a 20 cent profit off each coin would have been quite lucrative.
Going back to the green corrosion spot, it makes me wonder what kind of metal is actually in these things. Watch it be a lead/mercury amalgam, and I will die of heavy metal poisoning after handling it. >>
Is it possible that these were produced as "worn coins" to add some authenticity to the piece?
The name is LEE!
Actually, if you read some of the literature (see the Contemporary Counterfeit Bust Half Collectors Society website, linked below), you will find that an F-12 example with nice surfaces is a "high grade" specimen. Many of these are corroded, scratched up, and look like they were no better than G-4 when they were produced (often from casts).
link to ccCBHcc website
<< <i>
I thought of him immediately when I read the thread title. {shudder}
Russ, NCNE
Sorry, didn't mean to hijack the thread!
Very cool coin!
<< <i>I don't know about now, but a couple years ago this was an extremely hot market segment. I sold a couple groups of these and they brought more than their mint struck brethren. In some cases, significantly more.
Russ, NCNE >>
So let me get this straight.
It's ok to buy and sell counterfeit coins as long as they're not from say 2000 to Date?
I mean, if they've got a historical role in numismatics then they're collectible?
If thats the case, then the Chinese are in to something.
The name is LEE!
The new Chinese pieces are junk....
Notice that the counterfeiter cut the S backwards
on the word PLURIBUS....
piece. Both have the same reverse...
I know this is an older thread, I didn't want to start a new one but thought this was interesting:
Here is an interesting bogus 1837 half dollar I originally had listed on eBay. A collector informed me it was a counterfeit so I ended the listing.
peacockcoins
If it is bad, I'll bet It's still probably worth over $75.
Reverse type of 1838-39, so yeah, bogus. Looks contemporary. Davignon 4-D, apparently.
(may be duplicate post)
Ed. S.
(EJS)