Opinions on this ex James Curto lead CSA 1861 50 cent 19 bud example please? Struck or cast?
MichaelOrgan
Posts: 8 ✭
MichaelOrgan
Posts: 8 ✭
Answers
This is a recent acquisition and all images are the seller's. I dont handle my coins etc that way.
Unfortunately it looks like a not so well done casting which is not close to the real thing.
What you have is a copy of the 1861 Confederate half dollar, which was stuck at the New Orleans Mint. There are only 4 of those known.
The dies for the Confederate reverse cropped up in the 1870s. The Scott Stamp company made the "Confederate restrikes" by planing off the reverses of 500, 1861-O half dollars. They overstruck the coins leaving flat spots on the obverse. There are maybe 300 or so of those pieces left. Here is one of them.
Yes it's a typical cast copy of the real thing. These used to be, and may still be, sold in gift shops in historical sites and reenactments.
This example was in the highly regarded numismatist James Curto's collection. He died in 1990 at the age of 90+. Purportedly sourced at his Bower and Merena estate sale. It is unlike any replicas I have researched and does appear to have genuine age. I am happy to have acquired an item from his collection, regardless of what it proves to be be.
With all due respect to the collector who owned this previously, his name, age, years in the hobby, and the patina on the "coin" do not change what it is.
Your piece is cast (of lead, apparently) and does look very much like the kinds of replicas that have been sold in souvenir shops over the decades.
I spent a few seconds searching Google and turned up some photos of similar cast replicas.
I have a few old replicas myself which I am happy to have for what they are.
Thanks, however the examples you have shown are all 17 bud.
My question really hasn't been answered yet.
Could it be a trial strike?
The reverse face, unique to the Confederacy appears less finished than the obverse ( a work in progress?), and if struck, possibly double so....note the date please.
Your question has been answered. You asked for opinions, and you asked if it was struck or cast.
You received a few opinions (all in agreement that it is a replica), which you apparently don't like. And you have been told by a few people what is very plain to see - it is cast.
If you want to cling to the dream that it is original or some kind of unknown pattern, I don't think you'll find much support. It's a replica. Since they didn't circulate I wouldn't even call it a contemporary counterfeit.
If you compare it with Bill Jones' coin,
you can see the dentils are too long on both sides of your item.
So they are not from the same dies.
That is my point...and one of the reasons I posted this. From my perspective I find it extremely unusual.> @JBK said:
Why couldn't it necessarily be a trial or pattern strike or cast? Yes, there were cast patterns? Surely it would be unwise to dismiss possibility on the grounds of rarity alone....
Piling on here to also call it a worthless cast copy.
Please substantiate this...I'm remaining objective and simply wish to know why.
Because tourist copies of such items have been struck from different dies
That’s exactly what you have
It does not appear that you are remaining objective.
1st the casting mark can be seen around the rim of the coin.
It matches known copies
Even on the holder you have it says Lead which is a known format for replication.
You have an actual strike in this thread and you have 3 big whigs from all sides of the counter....
A grader
B an error coin dealer
C an advanced collector
I hope you did not get ripped off. If you can return it then return it.
Just because someone wrote on a flip that it came from this person or that person's collection does not always provide confirmation.of authenticity.
Your coin is a caste copy appearing to be made from counterfeit dies.
I am sorry.
Step back and look at who is saying what
.. that matters.
NbL
J
cast
Proud follower of Christ!
Man.....I really hope you didn't pay much for this one. It will be a learning experience for sure.
Update....ouch. $100 with no returns!
Fortunately for the buyer, in many cases, a “no returns” policy doesn’t mean that the item can’t be returned. Hopefully, he will end up being objective in hearing the feedback provided my multiple highly knowledgeable forum members.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
$100....that explains the defiant response to the feedback provided.
I hope a diploma comes with that tuition.
If it seems too good to be true it usually is.
Mr. Curto may indeed have owned this. Many collectors buy random groups of stuff to get one item in the group that they want. Some get rid of the other parts of the group, some don't. Many of us are born pack rats.