1857 half dollar error

This coin was among several old coins that my grandmother had. Can someone tell me how the coin got like this and how the value is affected? Thanks.

 

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Probably a cast fake. IMHO.

 

It looks like a cast copy. Not much value.

 

Thanks for the replies. I know little about coins. What’s a cast copy?

 

The coin was not struck by a press. It was made with molds. They melted the metal and poured it into the molds.
Some folks collect fakes and would probably pay a few dollars for it.

 

Youd think the frauds would at least sand/grind the edges down. Lazy.

 

Perhaps your grandfather made it for fun. Heirloom?

 

Ditto 1

 

Ditto 2

 

Ditto 3

 

Looks like it was made by a mold, not a machine like the Mint uses. A cast fake. Only worth what someone is willing to pay for it, like a couple of dollars.

Welcome to CT.

 

Definitely a cast fake as others have said.

 

It's definitely a cast fake or reproduction that was possibly made by grandpa just for fun. If it's made from lead dispose of it immediately in a sealed container; if it's made from a metal such as zinc or tin you'll be okay keeping it as a novelty.

 

Thanks everyone for your replies. Very helpful. I think I’ll toss it.

 

Please don’t toss. It’s worth a couple or so dollars as a fake, but as a momento of your grandmother, even more.

 

You'll toss it? You stated that it was your grandmothers. That should be worth a million dollars to you, if not more.

How much room can that one tiny, little coin take up?

 

I have lots of coins from her, as well as many other mementos. I doubt that the coin meant anything to her. She wasn’t a collector. Just can’t keep everything, especially as I’m a minimalist.

 

Then give it to a great grandchild as that belongs in the family.

 

As already stated even if it doesn't have a high monetary value,
if it is something your grandmother kept, then it meant something to her
and as a family heirloom it is priceless and irreplaceable.

 

I agree with this sentiment. I inherited a lot of mint and proof sets and things from my grandfather after his departure from this earth in 2017. A lot of them were duplicates of sets that I already had. I ended up reviewing each set to my own and keeping whichever one was in nicer condition. The ones that were deemed to be in lesser condition were sold to another member on this forum generously for only face value.

Just the other day I gave away a three-coin Barber dime and quarter set (the kind sold in magazines or on infomercials) that was my grandfather's to a kind family whom I felt their kids may enjoy better than I. It all takes real estate. To me it's not that big of a deal as I still have many, many other coins and items from my grandfather that I will not be parting with.

You can't keep it all and to let an item here and there go to someone else who will appreciate it is what counts in my book. And in this case the OP's item may be lead; if it is he or she will be better off disposing of it post haste.