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Interesting fake, copper 1819 capped bust half dollar
Ppp
Posts: 611 ✭✭✭✭✭
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.
8
Comments
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.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
I should give the reference as well. The above information was sourced from Keith Davignon's fabulous book Contemporary Counterfeit Capped Bust Half Dollars.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
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.
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.
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
“We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”
Todd - BHNC #242
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.
Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, "Meditations"
Apparently I have been awarded the DPOTD twice.