While looking through the handful of silver half dollars I have, this one caught my eye. I'm 99% sure it's fake because: Off color Wrong weight No "silver ring " (more like a base metal thud) Failed magnet slide test Mushy details I don't know where I got it , I've had it for at least 20 years . I'm thinking it was made years ago for a spender, back when 50 cents was worth something . Any thoughts ?
I think your theory about it being a spender makes sense. 1936, with a mintage of over 12 million, doesn't exactly qualify as a rarity really worth counterfeiting, especially in that condition. My only other theory is stage money. Perhaps a play or a movie needed a somewhat realistic half dollar and, seeing that the real thing may have cost too much, or worrying that someone would run off with a real example, someone created a nice looking but well worn duplicate? Who knows? The coin's year might suggest an attempt at a real counterfeit to pass off to the gullible, since 1936 fell right within the Great Depression years. Where did you find it? Or how did you get it?
As a contemporary counterfeit it is an unusually well made example. Most are much cruder. How does the edge look?
Very informative post. I guess you always need to be on the look out for fakes. Thanks for sharing this!
I'm not sure I've seen a contemporary counterfeit Walker. That's really cool. So what do you suppose it's made out of? Pewter? Lead?
This is as close in as I can get. As for weight, I don't have a digital scale, but on a balance scale, it is lighter than a silver half. This half + a zincoln cent weighs the same as a silver half.
I've seen coins that were harshly cleaned & stored improperly take on a similar coloration, but if the weight is wrong, the coin is wrong. Weird piece and an interesting find.
Well that would indicate that the OP coin is in the neighborhood of 2.5 grams light, or roughly 25 times the allowed tolerance. Pretty much guarantees the coin is not genuine.
