die struck? platted? counterfeit? pattern? or die trial piece? This Canadian cent is a puzzlement. It is bright red and some of the raised devices are just plain flashy. It has uncirculated details. It has very (very) minimal luster in the fields which makes me think that it was either plated or a very (very) early strike. It has die clash of the obverse on the reverse. It weighs 4.46 grams and the business strike should be closer to 3.3 grams according to Krause. Is it die struck? platted? counterfeit? pattern? or die trial piece? I don’t own the coin. Today I sent it to NGC with a batch of world coins. The owner wanted to spend the $20 for NGC’s opinion which we should have in 2 or 3 weeks. Let me know what you think of the coin & please post any ideas you have about the coin. Very best regards, collect89
You can see the die clash of Queen Victoria's neck in this photo. The back of her neck goes between the 1 and 8. The front of her neck (throat) goes through the 9. The die clash is quite strong.
Sorry - I do not know anything about this coin, but I did like the color in the first picture. Almost looks too good to be true - but I hope it is a genuine coin for the owner.
I really can't see anything that would make think the coin was a fake. Are you sure that your scales are accurate or that they don't need calibrated ? I'd suggest that you check them by weighing a coin that you know the weight of - like a modern quarter maybe. I'm not familiar enough with these to say, but the beading on the obverse is rather weird looking. But that may be normal - I don't know.
The calibration of my scale is now verified & there is high confidence in the 4.46 gram weight measurement.
The ANA library always has a book sale during the summer seminar. I found “The Charlton Standard Catalog of Canadian Coins” Summer 1981 edition for sale at $2 marked down to $1. This 1981 catalog including prices just proved to be very useful. It lists weights and materials for the 1859 cent which are apparently different than what is listed in my Krause book. The Charlton book says that there are rare varieties in brass which can be noted by their yellow color. The Charlton book also lists the weight for the 1859 cents in general at 4.45 grams. The moral of the story is to always buy old books for $1. I quite frequently find information in old books which is not found in newer books. I’m still wondering why this cent has no luster. Maybe it was plated to look brass or maybe it is brass. Very best regards, Collect89
The TPG said "1859 CANADA 1C, NARROW 9 BRONZE, EXCESSIVE SURFACE HAIRLINES" Whether it’s called "altered surface" or "excessive hairlines", the luster has been stripped off by some cleaning process(s). Now I get to tell the owner that he paid good money to have the coin put into a flip with a loose label. Very best regards, collect89
The way I see it the normal ones were copper and bronze would be the brass ones, but I could be wrong. Ribbit
I just don't see anything that makes me think it is not genuine. Now, cleaned? That is another question.
