1876 CC Seated Half - Genuine?

Options
Meltdown
Meltdown Posts: 9,284 ✭✭✭✭✭
in U.S. Coin Forum

This was an ebay purchase. In hand, the surfaces are slightly porous and it is not so dark. At first glance I thought it was cleaned, but there are no hairlines. It weighs 12.5g
The CC is widely spaced. It does appear to have luster when swirled. It just looks "off".
I'd appreciate your insights. Is it cleaned? Is it counterfeit? Is it fine and just been messed with at some point?
Sellers photos:

A couple different angles from my phone:





Comments

  • Flatwoods
    Flatwoods Posts: 4,270 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    I agree. Doesn't feel right.

  • RedRocket
    RedRocket Posts: 1,938 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    Interesting.
    Could it have been (expertly) reengraved?

  • DoubleEagle59
    DoubleEagle59 Posts: 8,433 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    I vote fake.

    "Gold is money, and nothing else" (JP Morgan, 1912)

    "“Those who sacrifice liberty for security/safety deserve neither.“(Benjamin Franklin)

    "I only golf on days that end in 'Y'" (DE59)
  • kaz
    kaz Posts: 9,378 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    Any time I see that porous grainy look to the surfaces, I think "fake." The multiple photos from different angles are very helpful.

  • Cougar1978
    Cougar1978 Posts: 10,067 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited April 4, 2026 8:35AM
    Options

    It looks really nice .

    Why is it not in a TPG holder?

    Investor
  • coinkat
    coinkat Posts: 24,542 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    Sort of interesting how the progression of the images further create and add to that suspicion.

    Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.

  • IkesT
    IkesT Posts: 4,600 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    The coin has the die markers of the 1876-CC WB-11 variety, so it's either a genuine example or a copy of one.

    http://old.lsccweb.org/BillBugertBooks/Bugert-Vol-II-CC.pdf

  • Meltdown
    Meltdown Posts: 9,284 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited April 2, 2026 6:21PM
    Options

    If it is a fake, it's scary good from a visual standpoint. I have a saved search for 1876 CC halves. I have been watching them for a few years. Mostly they are often either slicked out junk, high grade slabbed and expensive or very obvious Chinese counterfeit. The eBay seller photos look very convincing.

  • Walkerguy21D
    Walkerguy21D Posts: 12,164 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    @golden said:
    The head looks strange to me.

    That was also what jumped out at me as suspicious, though the rest of the coin seems ok, at least via small iPhone images.

    Successful BST transactions with 177 members. breakdown, scotty1419, mattniss, bigjpst, onlyroosies, Manorcourtman, guitarwes, Ebeneezer, Tonedeaf, Shane6596, Piano1, Ikenefic, RG, PCGSPhoto, stman, Don'tTelltheWife, Boosibri, Ron1968, snowequities, VTchaser, jrt103, SurfinxHI, 78saen, bp777, FHC, RYK, JTHawaii, Opportunity, Kliao, bigtime36, skanderbeg, split37, thebigeng, acloco, Toninginthblood, OKCC, braddick, Coinflip, robcool, fastfreddie, tightbudget, DBSTrader2, nickelsciolist, relaxn, Eagle eye, soldi, silverman68, ElKevvo, sawyerjosh, Schmitz7, talkingwalnut2, konsole, sharkman987, sniocsu, comma, jesbroken, David1234, biosolar, Sullykerry, Moldnut, erwindoc, MichaelDixon, GotTheBug
  • skier07
    skier07 Posts: 4,834 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    I hope you have return privileges although that doesn’t mean anything nowadays.

  • Meltdown
    Meltdown Posts: 9,284 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited April 2, 2026 6:26PM
    Options

    @IkesT said:
    The coin has the die markers of the 1876-CC WB-11 variety, so it's either a genuine example or a copy of one.

    http://old.lsccweb.org/BillBugertBooks/Bugert-Vol-II-CC.pdf

    This makes me pause. The seller described it as WB-11. I do not know variaties off hand but am researching... I'm leaning toward altered surfaces but possibly genuine.

  • IkesT
    IkesT Posts: 4,600 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited April 2, 2026 6:45PM
    Options

    @Meltdown said:

    @IkesT said:
    The coin has the die markers of the 1876-CC WB-11 variety, so it's either a genuine example or a copy of one.

    http://old.lsccweb.org/BillBugertBooks/Bugert-Vol-II-CC.pdf

    This makes me pause. The seller described it as WB-11. I do not know variaties off hand but am researching... I'm leaning toward altered surfaces but possibly genuine.

    That seems like a reasonable hypothesis.

    At a certain point, the surfaces can be altered enough that it's hard to tell one way or the other if the coin is genuine.

    Either way, it seems like you have a good argument to return the coin, if that is what you'd like to do.

  • IkesT
    IkesT Posts: 4,600 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    If I was requesting an eBay return on this particular coin, I'd emphasize that there was nothing in the listing description or photos that would have alerted me to the extremely altered/porous surfaces of the coin. The seller photos don't show it and the listing doesn't mention it. The surfaces indicate that the coin is damaged, at the very least, and I'd add that the surfaces are so altered that I was not even able to determine whether the coin is genuine. I'd be sure to attach the photos you took showing the porous surfaces. That should be enough to satisfy eBay and allow you to return the coin as not-as-described.

  • Aegis3
    Aegis3 Posts: 2,943 ✭✭✭
    Options

    I suspect RedRocket got it.

    --

    Ed. S.

    (EJS)
  • johnny9434
    johnny9434 Posts: 34,092 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    When in doubt pass

  • Catbert
    Catbert Posts: 8,258 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    Looks "off" to me. Here's a 77-CC. Compare the nose line:

    Seated Half Society member #38

    "She comes out of the sun in a silk dress,
    running like a water color in the rain...."
  • Swampboy
    Swampboy Posts: 13,262 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    To be cont'd
    bookmarked

    "Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working" Pablo Picasso

  • shortnock
    shortnock Posts: 522 ✭✭✭✭
    Options

    Wishing you the best of outcome.

  • DesertCoin
    DesertCoin Posts: 481 ✭✭✭
    Options

    Highly sus, does it ring when spun? That would determine if it was die struck or cast at least.

    “Land of the free because of the brave”
    “Saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone”
    In Deo solo confidimus
    ΙΧΘΥΣ
    ΙϹ ΧϹ ΝΙΚΑ (ΙΗΣΟΥΣ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ΝΙΚΑ)


    Member since 2026
    Successful BST transactions with: Ted 1, JWP, bigjpst, Vetter, nickelsciolist, ajaan, USMarine6, ad4400, grote15, coinbuf, Gothat3rs, No Headlights, PROMETHIUS88, Harlequin, Coin Finder, Coins3675, CKcollectibles2
  • Old_Collector
    Old_Collector Posts: 1,210 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    @Meltdown said:
    I made a deal with the ebay seller. He's asked me to send it off to our hosts. I happen to have 4 vouchers I've been meaning to use. He has agreed to pay for the service and refund if it comes back cleaned or not genuine. We've had a good back and forth conversation going even before I requested the return.
    I'm going to choose to trust him at his word.

    the EBay guarantee has a time limit, so you are potentially giving that up -- not a good idea.
    Looks cast. Can't wait to hear the outcome. ;)

  • DoubleEagle59
    DoubleEagle59 Posts: 8,433 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    Sounds like a good seller.

    "Gold is money, and nothing else" (JP Morgan, 1912)

    "“Those who sacrifice liberty for security/safety deserve neither.“(Benjamin Franklin)

    "I only golf on days that end in 'Y'" (DE59)
  • dcarr
    dcarr Posts: 10,260 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    My guess is genuine, environmental damage, cleaned, re-toned.

    Moonlight Mint
  • Flatwoods
    Flatwoods Posts: 4,270 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    @dcarr said:
    My guess is genuine, environmental damage, cleaned, re-toned.

    This is the most likely correct answer.

    If it's a fake, it's a really good one.
    If I was going to that much trouble, I'd probably use a decent planchet.

    I can only assume genuine, environmental damage.

    Great thread. Please keep us informed of the results.

  • Acarroll
    Acarroll Posts: 245 ✭✭✭✭
    Options

    I can't come to a conclusion regarding genuineness from the photos, but something is off. It doesn't look quite right.

  • MsMorrisine
    MsMorrisine Posts: 40,058 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    odd forehead-nose combo

    Current maintainer of Stone's Master List of Favorite Websites // My BST transactions
  • JBN
    JBN Posts: 2,007 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    The reverse shows casting marks near the period in DOL. and the nearest arrow. These even show up on the ebay pix. Porosity as already mentioned. Questionable authenticity.

  • RedRocket
    RedRocket Posts: 1,938 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    My prediction:
    PCGS returns it in a 'XF details, genuine/altered surfaces' holder.

  • mr1931S
    mr1931S Posts: 7,312 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited April 4, 2026 4:41PM
    Options

    What is the diameter? If a casting, should be slightly undersize. Also, inspect edge for evidence of a sprue hole.

    "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.

  • Smudge
    Smudge Posts: 10,001 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    @Catbert said:
    Looks "off" to me. Here's a 77-CC. Compare the nose line:

    And look behind the ear.

  • ldhair
    ldhair Posts: 7,460 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    I enjoy the pretty smile and profile on Liberty's face on these but I'm not seeing that on this coin.

    Larry

Leave a Comment

BoldItalicStrikethroughOrdered listUnordered list
Format
SpoilerCodeQuote
Heading 2Heading 1
Emoji
:):D:(;):/:o:s:p:'(:|B):#:*<3o:)>:)
Url
Image
Align leftAlign centerAlign rightToggle HTML viewToggle full pageToggle lights
Drop image/file
Comment As ...

Categories