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1851 Half Dime Mystery Piece
kenriles012
Posts: 170 ✭✭
Coin is right diameter but clearly not silver. It weighs about 2.2 grams. I am thinking a new contemporary counterfeit?
I think reverse was never struck not worn but not sure; that part is weird to me.
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It is not genuine
Possibly a game counter with the reverse shaved off. The "style" of the date numerals is very poor. Nice collectable item. I like it.
I agree - either a game counter token,
or a contemporary counterfeit that's
been planed off on the reverse.
Speilmarke game counter probably made in Europe.
It's brass and most likely made in Germany circa 1880-1900.
Believe it or not, I actually have two (2) examples of the identical replica 1851 half dime posted by the OP, complete with the uniface design and identical hole at the date. The first was purchased in 1996 from a well known New England dealer, and triggered quite a bit of research in order to identify the origin of the piece. Then, later, in 2002, I purchased an identical piece on eBay. The pieces are made of brass, and are die struck, not cast. They were struck as uniface replicas, meaning that there was no 'reverse' die used. My examples weigh 2.29 grams and 2.355 grams, respectively, and measure 15.67/15.72 mm, and 15.845/15.935 mm respectively (north-south diameter/east-west diameter). I have been told that these pieces were made as jewelry or bangles to adorn costumes and dresses, and are of relatively modern manufacture, although I have not been able to determine by whom. Because we now know of three identical uniface pieces, it would appear that the reverse was not shaved or planed off, but was manufactured that way. I am sorry that I am unable to post pictures of my examples, but suffice it to say that my examples are both identical in every respect to the OP's (i.e., weight, diameter, composition, color, and appearance).
I was pretty confident it was not struck on the reverse.
@kenriles012 said: "I was pretty confident it was not struck on the reverse."
I was not.
The font of half dime knowledge has spoken.
Great information... amazing what can be tracked down or explained by our forum members....Thanks @MrHalfDime ... Cheers, RickO