A friend gave this to me years ago, after informing him that it wasn't a real coin. I thought I'd post and see if anyone else has similar "tokens" or whatever you'd call this. The "coin" appears to be cast, made of what might be pewter or some kind of iron. I'm pretty sure "copy" was scratched off (1st photo). It's about the size of a half-dollar. Anyone have info on this?
OMG. You have the original pattern coin that was given to Ben Franklin to bring to North America for George & Martha Washington’s approval! It originally stated "Ben’s Fugio" on the obverse and Mr. Franklin scratched out the “Ben” part during the voyage to America. Of course, I just made up the story. I think you are correct. Somebody scratched-out the word COPY. It may have been one of the many copies made during the 1976 bicentennial. Let’s see what others might know about the piece.
Good to hear, I was hoping others may have some. Not much luck on info yet, but it's early. One good piece of info vs 3 not even relevant ... I'd say average for in here lol
For a while, the old Gallery Mint Museum was producing Fugio cent reproductions with old-style coin presses, but their products were excellent and the word COPY was incused so deep into the design that one would have to dig a trench in the coin to obliterate it. Another possibility, especially if it is cast, is that it may have been sold as a souvenir piece at one of the various historical parks or villages in the East and Northeast, such as Old Sturbridge Village in Massachusetts, Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia, and so on. I have a cast copy of a LIMA shilling that I bought at the gift shop at Old Sturbridge Village many years ago, and while the little information sheet said the reproduction carried the world COPY, I never found it.
It is a fake Continental dollar not a Fugio. I am not sure it had "copy" removed. To the left of the date is an "R" for replica, to have both the R and copy would be redundant. The Continental dollar has to be one of the most copied coins of all time, almost impossible to say when or by who it was made.
You are right-- it's a fake Continental Dollar. It shares a common reverse with the Fugio, and the copper color is confusing. And they both have sundials on the obverse. It's time to go brush up on my pre-1793 coinage.
Yeah, the copper color, this one is kind of neat, not the usual gray bubbly pot metal look of the usual souvenir copies. Would be interesting to find more info on it.
Thanks! The scratching is only on the surface, and appears to be cast, so the 1st possibility can be ruled out. I appreciate the info!
Thank you for the info. I had considered putting something like "Fake Continental Currency/Fugio" as a title but decided on leaving out the CC part. I assumed it might be called that (on coin sites/by experts) but figured someone would come and give me the correct term eventually. I was wondering myself about the possibility of "copy" not being on it, but the scratch suggested something was there though, and "copy" would be a logical guess. Thanks for correcting me!
I knew this wasn't something most people would be generally interested in, but I'm glad I posted. The fact that this has lead to you wanting to brush up on pre-1793 issues is cool. Thanks for viewing.
