Home U.S. Coin Forum
Options

1809 half, fake or old counterfeit?? Im stumped

I saw this at a pawn shop earlier and it seemed off to me. The reeded edge was a dead giveaway right? Theyre supposed to be lettered not reeded.... the weight was correct for a 1809 half dollar and it defintely looked like silver. I dont know guys what do you think?

Comments

  • jonathanbjonathanb Posts: 3,752 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Looks like a modern Chinese knockoff to me.

  • DollarAfterDollarDollarAfterDollar Posts: 3,215 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I'm no authority but I don't think any coins had reeded edges for many years after 1809.

    Agree with the counterfeit diagnosis.

    If you do what you always did, you get what you always got.
  • coin22lovercoin22lover Posts: 3,542 ✭✭✭

    No need to be stumped...it's a modern junk fake.

  • fake :(

    Successful Transactions With: PRoemisch, WTCG, CCFC, barberkeys, lkeigwin, ElmerFusterpuck, 123cents, coin22lover, coinlieutenant and abitofthisabitofthat
  • Spartcom5Spartcom5 Posts: 399 ✭✭✭

    Okay good that's what I thought. I expressed my concern to the guy in the pawn shop but he was not convinced so I left it at that. They had $80 on it and someone will probably buy it from them soon not knowing.

  • BIGAL2749BIGAL2749 Posts: 742 ✭✭✭✭

    A casted fake and not very good even for the Chinese

  • CaptHenwayCaptHenway Posts: 32,715 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @jonathanb said:
    Looks like a modern Chinese knockoff to me.

    This

    Numismatist. 50 year member ANA. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner numerous NLG Literary Awards.
  • TomBTomB Posts: 22,075 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Looks like modern garbage to me.

    Thomas Bush Numismatics & Numismatic Photography

    In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson

    image
  • JimnightJimnight Posts: 10,846 ✭✭✭✭✭

    At first glance it looked fake.

  • Timbuk3Timbuk3 Posts: 11,658 ✭✭✭✭✭

    :s !!!

    Timbuk3
  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭

    As a great grandchild would say to me... "kaka poppy, kaka".... :D:D Cheers, RickO

  • BillJonesBillJones Posts: 34,783 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Modern garbage fresh from the Chinese garbage factory.

    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
  • DoubleEagle59DoubleEagle59 Posts: 8,377 ✭✭✭✭✭

    That coin should only take 5 seconds to identify as a Chinese-made fake.

    For starters, just look at the date numerals - they're way off compared to a genuine one.

    Many other diagnostics, but no more are needed in this case.

    "Gold is money, and nothing else" (JP Morgan, 1912)

    "“Those who sacrifice liberty for security/safety deserve neither.“(Benjamin Franklin)

    "I only golf on days that end in 'Y'" (DE59)
  • jmlanzafjmlanzaf Posts: 36,475 ✭✭✭✭✭

    It's funny that if this coin were on eBay, there would be wailing and gnashing of teeth. But in a B&M, we just leave it there and move on. eBay isn't perfect, but they do try and remove fakes.

  • johnny9434johnny9434 Posts: 29,194 ✭✭✭✭✭

    bogus coin.

  • vplitevplite Posts: 1,385 ✭✭✭

    That looks really fake, and I have been fooled by some fakes. But not by that.

    The Golden Rule: Those with the gold make the rules.
  • lkeigwinlkeigwin Posts: 16,893 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Obviously the reeding gives it away instantly. Pretty dumb counterfeiters.

    Even without the reeds the usual giveaway are letters and numerals. In this case the date is laughable.
    Lance.

  • TreashuntTreashunt Posts: 6,747 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Just look at the date... fake

    Then the reeding, never mint made

    Frank

    BHNC #203

  • sellitstoresellitstore Posts: 3,053 ✭✭✭✭✭

    The real Miss Liberty doesn't have a lip piercing with an earring.

    Collector and dealer in obsolete currency. Always buying all obsolete bank notes and scrip.
  • tincuptincup Posts: 5,396 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited January 18, 2018 6:39PM

    @jmlanzaf said:
    It's funny that if this coin were on eBay, there would be wailing and gnashing of teeth. But in a B&M, we just leave it there and move on. eBay isn't perfect, but they do try and remove fakes.

    I think most here realize there isn't much recourse in a situation like this. As the OP mentioned, the owner didn't seem to care... he will eventually have a sucker that will pay the price.

    I've been to some local auctions and have a couple of times pointed out that a certain coin appeared to be fake... but that does not seem to be much appreciated. So... I could only stand back and watch someone throw their money away... but that's just the way it is. Buyer must always beware.

    ----- kj
  • jmlanzafjmlanzaf Posts: 36,475 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @tincup said:

    @jmlanzaf said:
    It's funny that if this coin were on eBay, there would be wailing and gnashing of teeth. But in a B&M, we just leave it there and move on. eBay isn't perfect, but they do try and remove fakes.

    I think most here realize there isn't much recourse in a situation like this. As the OP mentioned, the owner didn't seem to care... he will eventually have a sucker that will pay the price.

    I've been to some local auctions and have a couple of times pointed out that a certain coin appeared to be fake... but that does not seem to be much appreciated. So... I could only stand back and watch someone throw their money away... but that's just the way it is. Buyer must always beware.

    I don't disagree - although a U.S. counterfeit is a criminal offense. But people are always complaining about eBay and eBay removes counterfeits when alerted to it. I just think it's hypocritical to blame eBay for not catching all the counterfeits.

Leave a Comment

BoldItalicStrikethroughOrdered listUnordered list
Emoji
Image
Align leftAlign centerAlign rightToggle HTML viewToggle full pageToggle lights
Drop image/file