New "Family" of Draped Bust Half Dollar Counterfeits

Discussion in 'US Coins Forum' started by Jack D. Young, Jan 16, 2022.

  1. Jack D. Young

    Jack D. Young Well-Known Member

    I have written several Coin Week articles on groups of counterfeits I call "family" ones, where a genuine example is used for both the obverse and reverse with different dates added to create the series.

    This is a new one to me and several of my friends in my Group (Dark Side), and seen in three listings from a seller on the "Bay". Seller had a few of the family members we have already documented (several capped bust half dollars and one of the bad draped bust dollars) along with many genuine certified offerings. The bad raw coins were all reported and removed.

    The three new one's images as follows:

    1802.jpg

    1803.jpg

    1806.jpg

    An astute Member attributed the inspiration as the 1806 O-109, pointed 6 no stem, with die break at the date and possibly the 12th star; genuine example courtesy PCGS CoinFacts:

    O 109a.jpg

    Comparison image of the bad 1806 to the genuine image:

    obv comp.jpg
    rev comp.jpg

    And of course a twist, there is evidence of re-engraving of the arrows, probably to repair damage to the genuine example!

    arrows.jpg

    We will now be on the lookout for more, and I feel another Coin Week article in the near future...

    For more of my CW articles including my latest "Dark Corner" ones on authenticated counterfeits you can see: https://coinweek.com/?s=Jack+D.+Young+counterfeits

    Best, Jack.
     
    wiggam007, ZoidMeister, NSP and 6 others like this.
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  3. KBBPLL

    KBBPLL Well-Known Member

    A bunch of common marks across the fakes should make it easy to ID others, and possibly find the actual source coin in an auction sale. From the common marks in 80 it would appear that they removed the last digit and replaced it for subsequent dies.

    1802_1803_1806_50c_combo_annotated.jpg
     
    Marshall likes this.
  4. Marshall

    Marshall Junior Member

    Until then, the close 18 with 1 low and tilted CW relative to the larger 8 would certainly gain my attention if I collected this series seriously. I'm having enough trouble with my early Large Cents recently to venture outside too long.
     
  5. micbraun

    micbraun coindiccted

    Liberty has a cartoonish look, especially on the 1806 half, and the motto/date are too bold. It appears the color is off too. I think the large cent counterfeits Jack posted last year are more deceptive than those halves. I am glad I collect halves and not cents :)
     
    Last edited: Jan 17, 2022
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  6. Marshall

    Marshall Junior Member

    At least the counterfeiters appear satisfied using common varieties for Early Cents so far. I dread the day they turn their attention to the Rarer varieties I tend to collect.
     
  7. Jack D. Young

    Jack D. Young Well-Known Member

    Last edited: Jan 17, 2022
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  8. justafarmer

    justafarmer Senior Member

    Common marks abound
    1802_1803_1806_50c_combo_annotated.JPG
     
  9. Jack D. Young

    Jack D. Young Well-Known Member

    Some better images from an example reportedly returned to the bay:

    CU-o.jpg
    CU-r.jpg
    edge cu.jpg
     
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  10. KBBPLL

    KBBPLL Well-Known Member

    I did notice more of them after I posted, and you found even more.
    What do you see different about the obverse? The article image isn't very sharp but I think I see the same streak at the corner of the eye.
     
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  11. Jack D. Young

    Jack D. Young Well-Known Member

    Date position to lowest curl, distance between the "L" and "I" and "B" and "E", base of the "T" and some of the stars.

    anacs-o comp.jpg

    But I agree, would need a better resolution image to be sure!
     
    Last edited: Jan 18, 2022
  12. Conder101

    Conder101 Numismatist

    Now we just need to find an 1805 and 1807 and we'll have the whole set. And I would be surprised if they don't exist.
     
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  13. Jack D. Young

    Jack D. Young Well-Known Member

    And of course continued digging found the 1805:D...

    1805.jpeg
     
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  14. Jack D. Young

    Jack D. Young Well-Known Member

    Latest internet listing; seller calls it "RARE 1806 HALF DOLLAR 50 CENT DRAPED BUST WITH UNUSUAL "OP" STAMP ON BACKSIDE”…

    Clipboard01.jpg

    OP.jpg

    desc-2.jpg
     
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  15. ksparrow

    ksparrow Coin Hoarder Supporter

    Hmm.. I see OPY; maybe that was an owner's name :angelic:
     
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  16. Treashunt

    Treashunt The Other Frank


    and his first initial was C
     
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  17. Jack D. Young

    Jack D. Young Well-Known Member

    The listing was removed.
     
  18. LakeEffect

    LakeEffect Average Circulated Supporter

    Finally! A counterfeit with markers even I can ID!
     
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  19. Jack D. Young

    Jack D. Young Well-Known Member

    And a current listed 1801 with the reverse of 1806!

    I submitted my article to Coin Week and hope it gets air time...

    rev att.jpg
    Sent a note to the seller and received this response "I just purchased from a seller in England. Why ar eyouy saying it is a fake coin? Please explain.
    Thank you".

    I am trying to explain...
     
    Last edited: Nov 19, 2022
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  20. Mainebill

    Mainebill Bethany Danielle

    That o 109 so easy to identify. I think it may be the most common draped bust half. I’ve owned quite a few. 3 at once one time as it can often be found nice and not expensive comparatively so it makes a really nice type coin. Thanks Jack to let me know they’re even faking it. But the stemless reverse on any other date so east to catch
     
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  21. Conder101

    Conder101 Numismatist

    I think the hub may be from the same parent coin, but I think the entire date was removed from the hub. The placement of the date is different. Notice the point of the 1 is noticeably higher on the hair curl. On the other dates it is at the bottom edge of the curl, but on the 1801's it is almost halfway up the curl.
     
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