Contemporary Counterfeit Half Eagle

Got a weird one. At first I thought it was an 1846 half eagle contemporary counterfeit. I'm still leaning in that direction but I'm not certain it isn't a gaming token. So here's what I know:

• It's copper
• It's an 1846 Large Date
• It's a half eagle design
• Weighs 4.76 grams
• Diameter is 21mm
• Has a reeded edge
• Someone appears to have messed with the reverse trying to figure out the metal content, I think.

So any opinions or thoughts are welcome

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Huh, weird but cool.

 

That's really interesting I'd a bought it. The messed with area has an interesting tone. What does the third side look like?

 

Cool coin! Really nice pick up. How did you acquire it?

 

I'm mostly 'contemporary' but not on these things. Clueless schmuck am I..........

 

Typical as far as a reeded edge goes. I have a 1879 S half eagle and the reeding is the same.

 

It was on ebay. Some antiques dealer had it for $300. I asked what flexibility there was on the price and told them it was fake (just not sure what kind of fake) and they responded by saying it was on consignment. I wasnt paying 300 for it. Couple weeks past and they messaged me saying they lowered the price to what they would take for it. My curiosity is worth one benjamin apparently.

 

I am only wondering if the strike was weak, or if the maker couldn't produce a hard enough die to accomplish the task. It really has some interesting looking surfaces. I am thinking brass with a little extra zinc. I like the gold spot on the reverse.

 

That spot is weird. It has like a textile pattern in it.

The coloring makes me think it was cleaned at some point.

I like your idea of metal content. Very well could be brass. It would resemble gold in color for awhile.

 

A total head scratcher. I probably woulda had to buy it too just for the “whaat??” Factor.

 

I had a nice contemporary counterfeit $2.50 a few years back. I’ll look for pictures. I bought it for $10 from Bill Fivaz and flipped it for $75.

 

Looks like an interesting contemporary counterfeit. The brass-colored area on the reverse is interesting as well. Not that experienced with contemporary counterfeits but it looks like one to me.

 

Wrong planchet? (hey, one can dream, right?)

Is the 'weird' area raised?

 

That would be cool lol. That spot is flush with the rest of the coin's surfaces.

 

No change in the surface where I indicated in this pic??:

 

I wonder if it used to be attached to something.

 

Yeah there is a slight difference in height in those areas. Very very slight though

 

It almost looks like glue

 

Sorry. I should have been clearer. The spot is lower than the brown areas. Like a very very thin piece was stripped from that spot. I didnt notice that at first.

 

Considering the weave pattern in that area, maybe a piece of cloth was on the planchet when it was stuck and then later peeled off (or disintegrated).

IDK, just throwing stuff at the wall and seeing if it sticks, lol.