Counterfeit 1907 Barber Half Dollar??
Spartcom5
Posts: 399 ✭✭✭
Picked this up for 50 cents today. The guy claimed it was counterfeit. I am hoping to maybe have found my first contemporary counterfeit coin. It weighs 12.179 grams. It could be a real coin just extremely worn down to the point of no reeded edge. What are your guy's thoughts on this??
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Comments
Yep!
Cast fake. You would be in a better position to tell, but might be lead (does it ring or go thud when dropped on a hard surface?) The edge might also be revealing.
Given a few days, I can get an exact metal composition. My lcs has an electronic tester! I'll get an edge picture now.
Here we go. So when I dropped it compared to another 90% half dollar it definitely a thud.
If it's lead you should be able to write with it.
Cool, always enjoy what others find !!!
I wrote on paper with it, lead for sure.
Looks like a contemporary counterfeit. Pretty cool!
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
Not my series but the holes make it look like it was cast instead of struck.
"A dog breaks your heart only one time and that is when they pass on". Unknown
This is legal correct? As long as I don't ever try to market it as a real coin?
I agree that it's a lead fake.
Good question. My first impression is that it is technically not legal but no need to worry about the feds breaking door down. Or, maybe it is considered a legal pre-HCA replica (before COPY was required). Not sure, so don't hire me as your lawyer.
I think it's agreed upon across several forums that it's legal. At least to the point where you have to indicate it is counterfeit.
This is how legal it actually is http://www.seateddimevarieties.com/FS_Lists/bogo.htm
I don't see anywhere in that link that says they are legal, but maybe i missed it. Just because they are widely collected and sold by reputable dealers does not make them technically legal.
Put it this way: a fake 2017 half is clearly illegal. So, what makes a 1907 fake half legal? Is it because it is an obsolete design? But obsolete US coins are still legal tender. I am not trying to be argumentative, just trying to provide some food for thought. I have my share of similar coins so I am right there with you.
I also didn't see anywhere in that link which says old counterfeits are legal. At the end of the day, the government issued, official version is still legal tender and the contemporary counterfeit is still a counterfeit. I don't think it's legal, but I think many people look the other way on these.
Very interesting thoughts! Well, It's over 100 years old and you can barely even tell it's a half dollar. In the hands of most people today they probably wouldn't even know what it is.
Technically, counterfeit coins are never 'legal'....Those marked 'copy', are just that... copies and not considered counterfeit. A coin becomes counterfeit when produced by other than the mint and passed as legal tender - or 'intended' to pass as legal tender. In your case, I doubt anyone will be knocking at your door... so use it as an educational piece. Cheers, RickO
I'd want my 50 cents back
Steve
nice crayon for fity cent
I've found old silver coins on the beach, sand blasted for years, worn down to almost unidentifiable
rounds but they still maintained the reeding on the edge to some degree.