A gold colored Bust Quarter: counterfeit or...?

coin22lover

Saw this and picked it up as a curiosity piece, and then I realized that Tompkin's book refers to copper cast counterfeits for this variety (Browning 3). I have no clue, though.

Sonorandesertrat

Looks like lead that was gilded some time ago. If so, it's---a counterfeit. Looks like the reverse was hit with a square punch, yet is as colored as the surrounding area. Notice the numerous scratches---they look like light test marks. The bottom arrow shaft looks a bit crooked. Devices and lettering look mushy too. FAKE

COINS MAKE CENTS

It looks like a fake to me as well the letters aren't very sharp.

CaptHenway

Looks like a brass counterfeit.

lkeigwin

Counterfeit, made from a real quarter.

Lance.

EastonCollection

Counterfeit coin - The coin looks like it was made from a cast from a real coin like Ikegwin reported. Recently I was at a friends home and he showed my a coin cast that counterfeiters used to make coins. Pretty cool - All you have to do is to close the cast and pure in the melted metal and let it cool down and magic - you got a coin.

Sonorandesertrat

That engraved casting rig is really cool!

coin22lover

Ah really, so contemporary counterfeit, but not necessarily the copper casts described in the Tompkins's book?

Sonorandesertrat

Cut the edge and see what's underneath the gold color---brass, copper, white metal, or lead.

CaptHenway

Originally posted by: coin22lover

Ah really, so contemporary counterfeit, but not necessarily the copper casts described in the Tompkins's book?

Hard to say....some people are careless in their usages of copper and brass, since brass is mostly copper.

coin22lover

TTT with an update. After having done some digging, it looks like I might have the possibly 4th known copper (brass?) 1834 B-3 contemporary counterfeit, an R8 or an R7+ if you count this one. Here's a couple year old thread that I found with another one: https://forums.collectors.c......mp;threadid=919421 You simply never know what you may find in the archives here.



I would love for Quarternut to see this thread and chime in!





Side by side 2 of the 4 known:

grip

Wonder if all 4 are the same date.

coin22lover

Originally posted by: grip

Wonder if all 4 are the same date.

Yes, that's part of the whole premise of the 3 or 4 known.

Sonorandesertrat

If it's brass, it likely had a silver wash (plating) at one point. There were mechanical, rocker-style counterfeit coin detectors that were in use in the 19th century. One version tested quarters and half dollars, allowing the user to check diameter and weight.

ricko

Interesting piece.... a nice example to keep for study and demonstration. Cheers, RickO

grip

Originally posted by: EastonCollection
Counterfeit coin - The coin looks like it was made from a cast from a real coin like Ikegwin reported. Recently I was at a friends home and he showed my a coin cast that counterfeiters used to make coins. Pretty cool - All you have to do is to close the cast and pure in the melted metal and let it cool down and magic - you got a coin.



In the early 50's in my basement I would use the same technique to make
lead sinkers for fishing.

silverpop

fake