Interesting fake, copper 1819 capped bust half dollar

Ppp · September 12, 2026 7:18PM

I did a double take when I saw this in a collection. I never seen a copper half dollar I assumed it’s fake.
Non-magnetic
Weighs 10.26 grams
Looks like copper but failed sigma on copper and silver.
This was part of a collection that started late 1800s and nobody knows when or where it came from.

TomB · September 12, 2026 7:25PM

Very cool!

It appears to be an Obv1 RevA, which is noted as an electrotype or cast copy of an O,111 and is considered rare.

TomB · September 12, 2026 7:50PM

I should give the reference as well. The above information was sourced from Keith Davignon's fabulous book Contemporary Counterfeit Capped Bust Half Dollars.

jayPem · September 12, 2026 9:17PM

Here’s one I picked up from either Kieth or Stone.
Unfortunately I miss placed the envelope and all information about the coin!
It’s a cool coin though and like yours, it’s plain copper, no sign of silver plating.

BillJones · September 13, 2026 4:20AM

I imagine that these counterfeits began their existence with a silver or zinc plating which wore off very quickly. It would be hard to pass a copper or brass colored half dollar.

pursuitofliberty · September 13, 2026 9:22AM

It's a very cool contemporary counterfeit (IMO), which as @TomB explains is a known Die Pair for this issue, as outlined in Keith Davignon's definitive work.

Yours may have lived a fairly rough life, but that shouldn't diminish the significance of this find.

Congratulations! Very cool!!

Calling @jacrispies and @habaraca

Sapyx · September 13, 2026 9:06PM

I'd assume they would originally have had a mercury wash. This would have given the coins a realistic silvery appearance, but most of the mercury would then slowly evaporate away after a century or more, leaving just the copper behind.

Interesting fake, copper 1819 capped bust half dollar

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