Looking for opinions on this 1861 Three Cent Silver.....

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thebeav
thebeav Posts: 4,117 ✭✭✭✭✭
in U.S. Coin Forum

I suppose it's a fine 3 center, but something about it just bothers me.
The odd wear on the obverse for example. It makes it look wrinkled and bent, but it's not.

My Ebay Coin Store

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  • bearcave
    bearcave Posts: 3,996 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    It has some damage on the obverse.

    Ken
  • thebeav
    thebeav Posts: 4,117 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited June 18, 2020 11:58AM
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    @cmerlo1 said:
    I think might be a contemporary counterfeit, and a nice one at that.

    You know, it just may be.
    Look at the 'RICA'of America. Not aligned or evenly spaced.
    I found it packed away. Something I would have picked up 40 years ago.......
    It's amazing to think that 3 cents had enough value in 1861 to fake one !

    My Ebay Coin Store
  • amwldcoin
    amwldcoin Posts: 11,269 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    They were worth more than a nickel was when Henning counterfeited them and I suspect the Nickels would cost more to make!

    @thebeav said:

    @cmerlo1 said:
    I think might be a contemporary counterfeit, and a nice one at that.

    You know, it just may be.
    Look at the 'RICA'of America. Not aligned or evenly spaced.
    I found it packed away. Something I would have picked up 40 years ago.......
    It's amazing to think that 3 cents had enough value in 1861 to fake one !

  • bearcave
    bearcave Posts: 3,996 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Will the counterfeits have any silver in it?

    Ken
  • Jimnight
    Jimnight Posts: 10,846 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Looks fake.

  • SaorAlba
    SaorAlba Posts: 7,593 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @seanq said:
    Contemporary counterfeit, I posted one on the BST about six months ago, yours looks like it might have the same reverse. In that condition it is probably worth more as a fake than a real one.

    Sean Reynolds

    I agree, as a collector of contemporary counterfeits it has a lot more interest and history than the authentic 3¢ piece.

  • pursuitofliberty
    pursuitofliberty Posts: 7,926 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Man, I'm glad I opened the thread. First thing I thought was, yeah, it does look off ... ??? contemporary counterfeit ???

    Nice to see I might not be wrong


    “We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”

    Todd - BHNC #242
  • oih82w8
    oih82w8 Posts: 13,211 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    VERY fake. Terrible in fact...imho.

    oih82w8 = Oh I Hate To Wait _defectus patientia_aka...Dr. Defecto - Curator of RMO's

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  • NumisOxide
    NumisOxide Posts: 11,048 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Yup contemporary counterfeit. Cool.

  • thebeav
    thebeav Posts: 4,117 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Thanks folks....
    Maybe I'll stick it on the BST......

    My Ebay Coin Store
  • ricko
    ricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    A fake for sure.... those letters (RICA) are way off.....Cheers, RickO

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  • seanq
    seanq Posts: 8,835 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @ProfHaroldHill said:

    @seanq said:
    Contemporary counterfeit, I posted one on the BST about six months ago, yours looks like it might have the same reverse. In that condition it is probably worth more as a fake than a real one.

    Edit to add pics of my coin, looks very similar but not the same dies.


    Sean Reynolds

    Sean I think this example from my collection of Contemporary Counterfeits may be an earlier die state example of your piece. Harder to tell with the Obv, but the Rev is a 'dead-ringer', from what I can see.

    They probably struck them until the Obv die failed. :o

    I think you are exactly right, there are places where the lines of the star extend well beyond the typical design that are the same on your coin and mine. When I found my coin, I did some research and found another example with the large die crack posted here. I would love to know how many the counterfeiter was able to make before his dies failed.

    Sean Reynolds

    Incomplete planchets wanted, especially Lincoln Cents & type coins.

    "Keep in mind that most of what passes as numismatic information is no more than tested opinion at best, and marketing blather at worst. However, I try to choose my words carefully, since I know that you guys are always watching." - Joe O'Connor
  • roadrunner
    roadrunner Posts: 28,374 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Date is very uneven between the 18 and the 61. First thing that jumped out to me. The other specimen posted has a much more "presentable" looking 1-8-6-1 date.

    Barbarous Relic No More, LSCC -GoldSeek--shadow stats--SafeHaven--321gold
  • BillJones
    BillJones Posts: 35,935 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Counterfeit. As others said, the date, among other design devices, are wrong.

    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 ... ?
  • BStrauss3
    BStrauss3 Posts: 3,906 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    The counterfeits - at least the hand-cut dies - NEVER get the angles of the outlines quite right.

    Nice!

    -----Burton
    ANA 50+ year/Life Member (now "Emeritus")
    Author: 3rd Edition of the SampleSlabs book, https://sampleslabs.info/

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