Chopmark on a buffalo nickel?
JBK
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We can agree up front that this is not an "authentic" chop mark. The host coin tells us it is the wrong era and denomination. However, I am curious to know if anyone would be inclined to accept it as genuine if it was on a Trade Dollar.
No need for overanalyzing, but I was just curious about what people thought.
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I'd love to know what it says.
Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.
Hey, no heavy analysis.
I will add some more details in due course. Just curious if anyone would trust this mark on a coin that is more commonly found with chopmarks.
Cool !!!
It looks too much like the tattoo your buddy got back in 2001 more than it looks like a chopmark.
"Made in China".
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
joy / rejoice
Well that didn't take long.....
Modern steel stamp grom eBay, supposedly says "hsapiness", so joy/rejoice sounds right.
BTW, if you get one on circulation you'll know it's one of mine as it has my initials stamped on the reverse.
The chopmark itself shows little or no wear on a coin that is itself heavily worn. This is a clear indication that it was added to the coin recently, probably by someone who was just fooling around with a punch. It also isn't on a silver coin.
It says "me luv u 2 much". Peace Roy
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As an answer to your question, in my opinion the mark is rather stylized to be a genuine character chop; they tend to be more blocky and straight (you could refer to this one as nearly italicized). This calligraphy style can be found on genuine ink chops of the period, but I don't believe I've seen a genuine example with a punched chop in this style.
Beyond that, as others have said, it's not silver, it is rather late-dated (1913 or later, chopmarks were still being applied, but far more seldom and much smaller than this mark typically), and there is no wear associated with the chop on a heavily worn host. It's not genuine.
The saving grace of valuable chop Mark Coins is that they’re typically more valuable when not chop marked.
That and being targeted to silver coins allows one to analyze patina for age indicators
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I have never found a Buffalo nickel in a fortune cookie.
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Do not use a hatchet to remove a fly from your friends forehead
This.
Looks enameled inside mark.
The biggest factor for me, more important than the look being off is that the Chinese used these marks to show their acceptance of SILVER.
Close. Flat black enamel paint.
My opinion, should I have seen this at a show or shop, would be 'not genuine'...most of the reasons are noted above. That being said, it is a nice 'chop' and conveys happiness according to an Asian friend of mine, whom I quickly queried. Cheers, RickO
But chop marks weren't to authenticate any coin, just silver content.
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, evn when irrefutably accurate.
Unfortunately, it depends on the coin's condition. As you know, chops are becoming more popular as time goes by. I should guess that up to at least XF, a chop would add value to most coins. A genuine chop on even some MS coins would add value too.
not likely, the chop mark was to denote that the coin was good silver, as I remember
BHNC #203
No need to wonder, and your insunation is unwarranted. But, no offense taken.
This Chinese character punch is widely available in eBay for ten bucks or so. I purposely used it on a coin that would never have a real chopmark. I wanted to know if anyone would be fooled by it if it were on a coin from the China trade era.
I am not the one you have to worry about. Any coin that I counterstamp that could remotely be misidentified as vintage will also have my initials counterstamp added (as this one does). But, there are people out there who create forgeries or fantasies intended to deceive.
I collect counterstamped coins and authenticity is always a concern. In regard to chopmarked coins, I assume that most people who buy them do so on blind faith. I own exactly one chopmarked coin - an 8 reales that I bought years ago so I assume it is legit. I would like to buy some more, but I am scared by the prospect of fake chopmarks. Consequently, I was looking to find out how much thought others put into their assessment of a piece. There were some reassuring answers.
There have been faked chop marks produced using various types of screw drivers. Of course, these fake chops wouldn't fool anyone other than an inexperienced collector.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire