I bought this off a friend who just got this on ebay, he charged me $100...it weighs 13.2 grams. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...6k7dCiA%3D&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK:MEWAX:IT
Nothing about it points to the coin being a fake. It appears to be a genuine CBH with honest wear. Is there something about the coin that makes you think it is fake? Are you thinking it is a contemporary counterfeit? (I do not think it is a contemporary counterfeit.)
Personally, I would not have purchased the coin unless there was a solid, detailed photo of the reverse. I am able to tell by the obverse the condition of the coin, but a unevenly worn reverse may completely change my opinion. (Sorry, I understand this post is not answering the question previously asked, but I felt it needed to be said.)
Did they make counterfeits out of real silver...?....I don't really care if I over paid because I like the coin...any one have a good guess on the grade...?
Contemporary counterfeits were made to deceive the shopkeeper and were made with less silver than a genuine half dollar - or no silver at all. Many contemporary counterfeits were made of base metals and were washed or plated with silver. Some were made of German silver (a mixture of nickel, copper and zinc), which looked a little like silver but contained no silver at all. Modern counterfeits are made to deceive the collector and often will meet Mint specifications. Again, your coin appears to be a genuine CBH.
Check and make sure the edge is lettered and not reeded. Also, you might want to pick up the book “Contemporary Counterfeit Capped Bust Half Dollars” by Keith R. Davison. One hundred and fifty eight pages of “KNOWN” counterfeit Capped Bust halves.
There is a good image of the reverse, it's in the body of the auction description. Offhand I think it is real, it has been cleaned and I think the clasp on Liberty's drapery may have been reengraved.
Looks like it. Apparently that "enhancement" was quite common... here's a '32 I purchased that not only had the clasp engaved, but also had some work done to Liberty's cap:
Yep, thats a bit of enhancement on the clasp, but otherwise nothing to suggest counterfeit. The weight difference is due to wear. My two busts that escaped any carving.
I went to buy an air tight today for it and it's didn't fit...it's bigger than my Seated Liberty, is that right...?
I strongly agree with you, Hobo. Nothing screams to me 'fake' or 'counyerfeit'. Though, It would be nice to be able to see the reverse. I think it could be a nice coin with, like Hobo said, honest wear.
That doesn't sound good. But, where they are made in mass quantities, QC isn't 100%. Did you just buy the one holder? Bring the coin, try a few, and if it fits NONE, then something's up.
Numis, I'm a bit surprised you didn't pick up on this. The Red Book gives the diameter of Lettered-Edge Capped Bust Half Dollars as 32.5 mm and the diameter of Seated Liberty Half Dollars (and every Half Dollar after that) as 30.6 mm. So, naturally, a CBH would not fit in an AirTite made for a "modern" Half Dollar. Also, Lettered Edge Capped Bust Half Dollars were not struck in a close collar (which constrains the coin) so their diameter was not uniform.
All silver pre-seated Lib coinage is wider in diameter and I think a little thinner than later coinage.
The open collar is the real problem for airtites, albums etc on the early coins. Due to the open collar all the coins are different sizes so you can't make a direct fit "one size fits all' holder. So typically they make them large enough that 90% of the coins will fit inside the hole, but most of them will fit loose and rattle around.
Well, airtites are sized by millimeters. They do mention which coin fits in which (generally, I guess), but you can just measure the coin and buy the correct airtite, for example, get a 39mm instead of a 40mm (or whatever).
Doesn't help much when you measure your capped bust half and find they vary between 32.2 to 32.9 mm (Standard is 32.5mm). 32 mm is too small and 33 mm is too big. My early date cents are supposed to be 28.5 mm and mine range from 28.2 to 29.4 Whether you get a 29 or a 30 mm the coins are going to rattle a lot.
