Fake Civil War Identification Discs (Dog Tags) Be careful out there!
DCW
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All,
There is a very interesting subset to our hobby called "exonumia" by the late Russell Rulau. It basically encompasses all numismatic items other than coins and currency. Things like tokens and medals are very popular examples.
Among the most historical items collected under the banner of exonumia are Civil War Identification Discs, or "dog tags." For obvious reasons, they are enjoyed by general coin collectors for the tangible link to the soldiers that fought to save our union. Most are crafted from medals which engraved upon them bear the soldiers name, unit, and hometown. Others can be simply engraved upon a half dollar which was planed down for this use.
You have to be careful to do your due diligence when purchasing these items! I ran across the following in my eBay searches this morning, and it is a well known fake. Shamefully, the bidding is already up to $150:
Excerpt from the E-sylum written by Peter Bertram:
"Specifically, the half-dollar size fakes were Capt Nathan Boone, 12th Kentucky || Robert F. Bunting, 5th Texas Cavalry || Lt. William M. Forrest, no rgt noted || Thomas Taylor, 5th Louisiana || A.L.P. Vairin, Second Mississippi Vol. || Lt James B. Washington, no rgt noted. The dollar size fakes were Col. Joseph Mayo, 3rd Va. Inf and Lt. Col. Dorsey Pender, 1st North Carolina Regiment. At the time a "General Dorsey Pender" disc was rumored but I could never seem to run one down so I mention the fake but can’t confirm it actually existed."
True Civil War Dog tags are rare, each one being unique to that soldier who wore them. Confederate tags are extremely rare and caution should be advised whenever one is encountered without provenance. Sometimes a simply google search can save you from going down the wrong road.
The below is another tage belonging to Robert F Bunting, struck from the same counterfeit dies. It's not even a real half dollar!
Ebay seller has been advised and I will update with his response.
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
Comments
I've run into a couple of similar fakes at antique malls over the years. In both cases, even the coins were fake.
Been around for a while; I own one dated 1860 in my collection...
https://www.realorrepro.com/article/Fake-Civil-War-identification-discs?fbclid=IwY2xjawJRDl1leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHUKeNn7PZO4Z3GUtbpS7AhCY13kCOkH4MupfopHYDX0dbHpuMVBIMZFOkg_aem_r4OJzz_Fl58tDG4SnbeYEw
interesting, thanks for sharing, i saw a skilled badge from a freed slave one time and was quickly called bogus. the bum thought nothing of it either (they shut him down later as well)
Now up to $338 with 51 watchers.
Seller has not responded to my message.
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
Sigh
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
gotta report by a large number of people
report ebay counterfeit - known civil war dog tag counterfeit - details in op
then put that list about known counterfeits in the op
and trim down the link: https://www.ebay.com/itm/376093043576
fwiw - reported
won't work unless a whole LOT of people report it
I just reported it, too, FWIW.
Thanks for posting. These are fairly deceptive and raises the possibility of hand engraved copies with different names.
For someone not familiar with these, (me) anyone have any speculation on how they are made? Counterfeit base coin then hand engraved? or are the counterfeit dies engraved with the names and units.
They responded and are not pulling it, yet.
Try again.
For someone not familiar with these, (me) anyone have any speculation on how they are made? Counterfeit base coin then hand engraved? or are the counterfeit dies engraved with the names and units.
I think that these are from cft. dies with names already engraved. But hand engraved would be tougher to authenticate. Just be suspicious and careful when buying these.
They are exactly the same. There are a few different dies with the names I posted above. The coins are then artificially worn down to look like excavation finds.
EBAY should be ashamed of themselves for permitting these auctions when the proof is very evident that they are fake pieces.
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
$560 with another day to go!
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
you need to read the ebay counterfeit threads (and report) because ebay seems not to try even with documentation and photos attached. this is quite widespread and i've seen counterfeits i've found to have positive feedback left later