I have a chance to pick this up for a reasonable amount, I just don't feel quite comfortable about it with all the fakes about. Return could be difficult. Opinions please.
I’m not liking it at first glance. There are a few things that bother me. I’d pass for more than one reason. It’s a pricey date, too nice fit that degree of surface corrosion (to the point that it seems artificial), and the “cent” on the reverse just seems wrong. If I weren’t drinking at a bar right now, I’d check my references for you, but alas I’m already occupied for a worthy cause. Edited to say that the date doesn’t seem to be in the right location either. Just my memory of date position, but this seems wrong.
The corrosion is what bothered me , not so much the degree but the color. My memory tells me that even the dark verdigris has some degree of green.
I'm not an expert in the series at all but it looks to me like it was cast. Not sure if that is corrosion or what. But I've seen similar looking surfaces on cast Chinese fake coins.
The corrosion on a tough date doesn’t bother me as much as some other details, but this is a pass in my book, just too many questions. How much are they asking if you don’t mind?
I have Newcombs original textbook but it is tough sometimes going by his description alone. I just pulled up a good photo of a Lrg Date on Heritage and the date is way out of position. They have $50 on it which would be a steal if it wasn't a fake. Thank you for your input. I hope everyone that looks at it takes pause.
My gut said fake when I saw the color and surfaces, but the date gives me pause. If it is fake, it is a die transfer of a genuine 1857 large date large cent
Love the book, but it’s just not a good reference for determining counterfeits, simply too vague. Screenshot of the CoinFacts image used for educational purposes.
The shape of the numbers seem to be spot on but the distance of the 5 from the curl isn't even close. Tough to mistake the variety when there's only 1
Newcomb lists 1 variety and a 1b for doubling . I know over the years since his works were published there have been many varieties found and added in the series, but I don't have any of the updated resources.
I was going off of the dentil relationship and the tilt of the 7, but that 5 is pretty hard to ignore.
I couldn’t copy the link for some reason, but check out the PCGS links, there are comparative images there.