HELP!!! I can not find out any more info about this coin. It is not supposed to exist. Is this authentic? Is it altered? Does anyone know anything about it?
No large cents were struck dated 1815 due to a lack of planchets. All the planchets were supplied by Boulton & Watt of England and the shipments stopped during the war of 1812. The last of the planchets on hand were struck in 1814. After the war ended new orders for planchets were placed but they did not arrive until December of 1815. Rather than make up 1815 dies and and produce just a small coinage before the end of the year, coinage began using the new matron head design using dies dated 1816. This left a break in the continuous production of dates of cents and collectors filled that hole in their date runs with altered date coins. Usually altered 1845 coins but occasionally altered 1813 Classic heads. Usually the 1845's are rather crude, but I have seen some excellent altered 1813's. Surprising these altered coins can sometimes bring some pretty good money. I find it surprising because you can still get an 1845 cent pretty cheap, alter it and if you do a decent job make a profit.
You are correct, the U.S. Mint did not produce a one cent coin in 1815. But recently Dan Carr's Moonlight Mint produced a fantasy 1815 Large Cent -- overstruck on a genuine era-correct coin using a surplus press from the Denver Mint. Still available direct from the DC website: http://www.dc-coin.com/
This was the cheapest "1815" made from an 1845 in the Dan Holmes collection $98. This was the cheapest Classic head $506 (Made from an 1814) This one was made from an 1813 $863 And a better quality 1813 $1,380
1815 or 1816 or just to worn to tell? What is this piece of metal? Is this a coin an overdate of a counterfeit or altered coin? What is it?
This coin was purchased on eBay for $15.60 so you can estimate a value between $10-$20.00 or less due to condition.
I Love that coin it is Awesome! You are Awesome John. Thanks for letting us see such a nice specimen.
