Off-Metal 1854 2½ Dollar Liberty

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Coins4Eli
Coins4Eli Posts: 33 ✭✭
in U.S. Coin Forum

Hello, I just recently purchased a large group of shield and liberty nickels, after I started sorting them I came across this piece. It has the design of an 1854 2½ Dollar gold piece, but its not made of gold. I right now suspect that it may be a contemporary counterfeit, but also the thought that it way be a pattern or die trial has popped through my mind. I am currently looking for just a solid opinion on what it is. I am also wondering why on earth it was worn down so much.
Now down to the specifics, I weighed it and quickly scanned it with the XRF gun, here are the results:

Weight: 2.67g
Diameter: 18.0mm

Metal Content
Copper: 63.49%
Zinc: 22.12%
Nickel: 14.38%

Note: The edge is reeded, and upon comparing it to a known genuine piece I have noted that the spacing is the same.

All opinions and comments apricated! :)


Comments

  • jonathanb
    jonathanb Posts: 4,155 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I'm also assuming a contemporary counterfeit, but it sure isn't a common one!

  • CaptHenway
    CaptHenway Posts: 34,177 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Certainly looks like a contemporary counterfeit to me.

    Professional Numismatist, Retired. 55 year member ANA. Former ANA Senior Authenticator. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and ANA Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner of the PNG's 2026 Robert Friedberg Award for "The Enigmatic Lincoln Cents of 1922," Available now from Whitman or Amazon.
  • braddick
    braddick Posts: 25,190 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    The obverse start between 12:00 and 2:00 confirm for me its bogus status (coupled with everything else). I'd imagine it is a somewhat valuable piece with the right collectors.

  • 291fifth
    291fifth Posts: 25,218 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    The level of wear evident is just as surprising as the piece itself.

    All glory is fleeting.
  • RobertScotLover
    RobertScotLover Posts: 1,069 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I guess the new off metal is any classic coin not in its proper alloy, good to know says the newbie know it all with 14 posts, do we have to suffer through this crap again, it seems to never end

  • Kliao
    Kliao Posts: 5,802 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I would guess contemporary counterfeit too. The amount of wear on the coin is very interesting though.

    Collector
    Over 100 Positive BST transactions buying and selling with 57 members and counting!
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  • Meltdown
    Meltdown Posts: 9,284 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    That is really interesting!

  • No Headlights
    No Headlights Posts: 2,177 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Counterfeit, someone's pocket piece my best guess. Interesting.

  • ldhair
    ldhair Posts: 7,460 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @RobertScotLover said:
    I guess the new off metal is any classic coin not in its proper alloy, good to know says the newbie know it all with 14 posts, do we have to suffer through this crap again, it seems to never end

    Please offer your opinion of the coin.

    Larry

  • ajaan
    ajaan Posts: 18,007 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Very interesting piece. That amount of wear is very interesting. It would take a long time to wear down that much as a pocket piece.


    DPOTD-3
    'Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery'

    CU #3245 B.N.A. #428


    Don
  • NumisOxide
    NumisOxide Posts: 11,049 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Very cool contemporary counterfeit.

  • MrEureka
    MrEureka Posts: 24,782 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Real or not, I sure wish it had an S mintmark!

    Andy Lustig

    Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
    Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
  • seatedlib3991
    seatedlib3991 Posts: 1,630 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Way out of my playing field but i cannot find anything about an off metal 2 1/2 d coin in my Breen Encyclopedia. James

  • RobertScotLover
    RobertScotLover Posts: 1,069 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @ldhair said:

    @RobertScotLover said:
    I guess the new off metal is any classic coin not in its proper alloy, good to know says the newbie know it all with 14 posts, do we have to suffer through this crap again, it seems to never end

    Please offer your opinion of the coin.

    Maybe I jumped the shark, and thus my apologies to the op, due to so many bogus trolls popping up so frequently these days and I consequently I inadvertently thought it was occurring once again here, but after rereading the op's post I see where I went wrong. As to what this coin stands at, I am on board with a contemporary counterfeit for the following reasons:
    the design is off which I feel is obvious but obviously passable in circulation at the time
    and it is also obvious that it isn't gold .And lastly the condition is also suspect imo, the extreme wear makes it impossible to diagnose any further (which cannot be a coincidence) other than alloy testing and I believe that I can stop there.

  • jmlanzaf
    jmlanzaf Posts: 43,072 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited June 8, 2024 3:42AM
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    Are we ignoring the possibility that it was a jeton rather than a "counterfeit"? I suppose that is still basically a counterfeit but the purpose of manufacture is different.

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.

  • TrickleCharge
    TrickleCharge Posts: 513 ✭✭✭✭
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    I would agree that it is likely a contemporary counterfeit. Very cool piece.

  • CRHer700
    CRHer700 Posts: 2,153 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    It would be better if you could make out an S.

    God bless all who believe in him. Do unto others what you expect to be done to you. Dubbed a "Committee Secret Agent" by @mr1931S on 7/23/24. Founding member of CU Anti-Troll League since 9/24/24.

  • Coinbert
    Coinbert Posts: 767 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Look on the site badmetalcoin.com. Winston Zack has examples of contemporary counterfeits for sale.

  • lordmarcovan
    lordmarcovan Posts: 45,340 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Fascinating piece!

    Collector since 1976. On the CU forums here since 2001.

  • TwoSides2aCoin
    TwoSides2aCoin Posts: 45,223 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    i posted one of these a couple years ago with zero fanfare.

  • oih82w8
    oih82w8 Posts: 13,212 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Real or not, it's an interesting conversation piece!

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

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  • RobertScotLover
    RobertScotLover Posts: 1,069 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @TwoSides2aCoin said:
    i posted one of these a couple years ago with zero fanfare.

    And rightly so, I would have zero interest in such a piece, but because of the op's title to his thread it made me curious otherwise I would have passed on it

  • ambro51
    ambro51 Posts: 14,471 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited June 12, 2024 3:32PM
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    Likely eventually entered circulation stream as a “dime”.

  • Coins4Eli
    Coins4Eli Posts: 33 ✭✭
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    @ambro51 said:
    Likely eventually entered circulation stream as a “dime”.

    Agreed, I just realized a little bit ago that they are the exact same size.

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