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1837 R.E. Capped Bust Half Dollar...real or counterfeit?

jesbrokenjesbroken Posts: 11,256 ✭✭✭✭✭

Is this counterfeit?
Jim


When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln

Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain

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    BillJonesBillJones Posts: 35,959 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Everything is scary these days, but I tend to say genuine. These coins were sometimes not well struck because the use of steam presses was not totally mastered.

    Here are two certified examples.


    This one is graded MS-64. Despite that there is some weakness around "50 CENTS" on the reverse.


    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 ... ?
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    FlatwoodsFlatwoods Posts: 4,270 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Doesn't look good to me.

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    jacrispiesjacrispies Posts: 1,640 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Looks perfectly genuine. As a matter of fact, I don't think I've ever seen a modern reeded edge CBH counterfeit. There aren't scary counterfeits to be afraid of, and same applies to lettered edge CBHs.

    "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you" Matthew 6:33. Young fellow suffering from Bust Half fever.
    BHNC #AN-10
    JRCS #1606

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    TomBTomB Posts: 23,206 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Looks real and looks cleaned.

    Thomas Bush Numismatics & Numismatic Photography

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

    image
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    ldhairldhair Posts: 7,460 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Looks real to me.

    Larry

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    pcgsregistrycollectorpcgsregistrycollector Posts: 2,325 ✭✭✭✭✭

    IMHO something about it makes me wary, but trust the experts.

    Proud follower of Christ! I love the USA! Land of the Bright and Beautiful! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

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    TomBTomB Posts: 23,206 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I just revisited this thread an am not so certain about my original answer. The lighting is harsh and the piece might have been cleaned, which is why I stated that it looks real and looks cleaned. However, it also just doesn't "feel" right. So, I would be leery.

    Thomas Bush Numismatics & Numismatic Photography

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

    image
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    EarlyUSEarlyUS Posts: 306 ✭✭✭

    I vote: genuine.

    James at EarlyUS.com

    On the web: http://www.earlyus.com
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    MFeldMFeld Posts: 17,169 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @TomB said:
    I just revisited this thread an am not so certain about my original answer. The lighting is harsh and the piece might have been cleaned, which is why I stated that it looks real and looks cleaned. However, it also just doesn't "feel" right. So, I would be leery.

    My guess - and that’s all it is - is counterfeit. Crisper images might help.

    Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.

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    SilvanoSilvano Posts: 48 ✭✭

    The metal around the date looks a little bit pitted

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    lkeneficlkenefic Posts: 9,526 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Wow... if that one is counterfeit, it sure would have fooled me!

    That, based upon the pictures anyway... I might have more insight with coin in hand.

    Collecting: Dansco 7070; Middle Date Large Cents (VF-AU); Box of 20;

    Successful BST transactions with: SilverEagles92; Ahrensdad; Smitty; GregHansen; Lablade; Mercury10c; copperflopper; whatsup; KISHU1; scrapman1077, crispy, canadanz, smallchange, robkool, Mission16, ranshdow, ibzman350, Fallguy, Collectorcoins, SurfinxHI, jwitten, Walkerguy21D, dsessom.
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    mirabelamirabela Posts: 5,199 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Even if it's real, though, what's it got going for it? Why even consider it?

    mirabela
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    jesbrokenjesbroken Posts: 11,256 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited April 9, 2025 5:46PM

    I thought it to be counterfeit, but with all the original feedback, I wondered, but now feel certain it is a counterfeit, as I have found another just like it with same exact nicks on reverse. The coin in my post was sold, but this one from a different seller with 0 feedback, probably same seller. Thanks to all who replied.
    Jim


    When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln

    Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
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    lilolmelilolme Posts: 2,996 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @jesbroken If I am interpreting your above comment correctly, then not only are the marks the same but it is the same photo. The above photo and the photo in the OP appear to be the same photo. I am judging this by the lighting pattern on the coin. So perhaps the seller is using the same photo to sell multiple coins?

    https://youtube.com/watch?v=OwZlYz2V4AM Sophie Lloyd, guitar shred cover Paranoid (Black Sabbath)

    https://youtube.com/watch?v=fbEW8BrNctI Haley Reinhart, Don't Know How To Love You Live (direct to record)

    RLJ 1958 - 2023

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    TomBTomB Posts: 23,206 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @lilolme said:
    @jesbroken If I am interpreting your above comment correctly, then not only are the marks the same but it is the same photo. The above photo and the photo in the OP appear to be the same photo. I am judging this by the lighting pattern on the coin. So perhaps the seller is using the same photo to sell multiple coins?

    I agree in that I am not certain if you found the same coin or you simply found the same photo. If these are on ebay then I have found it more and more frequent that folks steal images and use them as their own.

    Thomas Bush Numismatics & Numismatic Photography

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

    image
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    MsMorrisineMsMorrisine Posts: 40,122 ✭✭✭✭✭

    possible stolen image from ebay listings

    possible borrowed image from some of our hated sites

    not my type, so i can't say anything about what is imaged

    Current maintainer of Stone's Master List of Favorite Websites // My BST transactions
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    opportunityopportunity Posts: 1,067 ✭✭✭✭

    I vote genuine.

    Early American Copper, Bust and Seated.

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    MsMorrisineMsMorrisine Posts: 40,122 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited April 9, 2025 8:18PM

    I can't look at what is imaged and determine, so i won't say it. i would never consider pushing the bin for this even without the verification ability

    i strongly urge visiting our most hated sites to look for what is pictured

    Current maintainer of Stone's Master List of Favorite Websites // My BST transactions
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    mr1931Smr1931S Posts: 7,314 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I've been fooled by better if this piece is counterfeit. It's real in my opinion. I would expect to see mushy details on one of these counterfeited. Not seeing mushy here.

    How much does the piece weigh? I'm thinking this coin looks better in hand than the images are telling.

    "Two things are infinite: human stupidity and the universe; and I'm not sure about the universe."
    -Albert Einstein-

    Mistakes are natural. But repeated mistakes without reflection are something else. That may be the “stupidity” he was referring to. In research, he admitted uncertainty openly. “If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?” This shows humility. Even a Nobel laureate accepted doubt. That humility makes the quote less cynical and more observational.

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    TomBTomB Posts: 23,206 ✭✭✭✭✭

    The counterfeits from China offered by low feedback sellers on ebay have been recently just stealing images of real coins and not acknowledging it. They often show a real coin, but a buyer will no doubt get a counterfeit.

    Thomas Bush Numismatics & Numismatic Photography

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

    image
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    MsMorrisineMsMorrisine Posts: 40,122 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @TomB said:
    The counterfeits from China offered by low feedback sellers on ebay have been recently just stealing images of real coins and not acknowledging it. They often show a real coin, but a buyer will no doubt get a counterfeit.

    true too

    Current maintainer of Stone's Master List of Favorite Websites // My BST transactions
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    lkeneficlkenefic Posts: 9,526 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @TomB said:
    The counterfeits from China offered by low feedback sellers on ebay have been recently just stealing images of real coins and not acknowledging it. They often show a real coin, but a buyer will no doubt get a counterfeit.

    Exactly this... Seller with Zero feedback is in China and only $4 for shipping? hard pass...

    Collecting: Dansco 7070; Middle Date Large Cents (VF-AU); Box of 20;

    Successful BST transactions with: SilverEagles92; Ahrensdad; Smitty; GregHansen; Lablade; Mercury10c; copperflopper; whatsup; KISHU1; scrapman1077, crispy, canadanz, smallchange, robkool, Mission16, ranshdow, ibzman350, Fallguy, Collectorcoins, SurfinxHI, jwitten, Walkerguy21D, dsessom.
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    Cougar1978Cougar1978 Posts: 10,067 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Looks real but cleaned.

    Investor
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    MsMorrisineMsMorrisine Posts: 40,122 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @lkenefic said:

    Exactly this... Seller with Zero feedback is in China and only $4 for shipping? hard pass...

    they get lower mail rates

    you are seeing communist postage costs which the usps accepts per a global(fully?) treaty on simply taking foreign mail' postage as is

    Current maintainer of Stone's Master List of Favorite Websites // My BST transactions

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