Verify that this is real - 1826 Large cent

I purchased a coin on ebay that arrived today.
Is there any reason to beleive this might be a fake?
The only reason I ask is that it is very loose in the Dansco 7070. It will fall right out if the slide is removed. I am not sure if thats normal or sometimes happen.
I do not have a scale to weigh it right now.



edit: I lightened the image up. It is very brown in hand.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

It does look strange... I would definitely weigh it.

 

Wanted to add, I also put in a dime in the dansco, and that too will fall through if the slide is removed. I know the dime is not a fake, so maybe sometimes the dansco holes can be a little off.

 

The surfaces of that coin remind of some of the Chinese fake large cents I have seen. They artificially age them to look old and corroded. A weight would tell a lot.

 

OK. Ill be able to weigh it within the hour. What should it weigh and what is the tolerance?

 

Well it weighs 10.6 grams. According to PCGS coinfacts it should be 10.89 grams. what do you think? Within tolerance or no? There isn't enough wear on it to lose .29 grams, thats for sure.

 

The toning reminds Chinese replicas currently sold on eBay, but the head details are strong and look way better than on most fakes.

 

I'd return the coin if possible. Not because I think it is fake (or real), but because in your mind there's already so much doubt about the authenticity of this coin that it'll continue bothering you every time you look at it. The joy of owning this particular piece is gone, and it's not worth the discomfort.

 

I think you are right, I'm already mad at the coin. I would still like to know is it is a fake though. I would want to mention it to the seller and also get some education on the matter. The seller doesn't seem shady and has great feedback.
This also bothers me:

 

The coin does look odd. Almost like it was dug then conserved and recolored.

That is not at all unusual. Large cents of this time were struck without a collar, and as such there's quite a bit of variability in their diameter.

If you don't like the coin, or if there is a question in your mind, you should probably return it.

 

Is it possible to see the untouched up photos? I would say that it is either corroded and retoned or is possibly a very good cast coin. Either way, sometimes the Dansco albums holes, especially for the cents and half cents will be off slightly as there was a pretty wide disparity in terms of the overall size of the finished cent. The Dansco album is on the big side of that disparity because it is fairly easy to shim in a coin, but a little more time intensive to widen the hole, not to mention the possibility of ruining the album while you do it.

 

The coin appears to be etched or corroded and cleaned. That may account for the light weight. Many of the fakes on the market do not attribute out right, this one does. 1826 N-7 R1. As mentioned theis type of coin was struck without a collar so the diameter varies from one coin to another. To allow for that Dansco makes the hole large enough to accept the largest diameter commonly encountered. The downfall of this is that a LOT of coins with smaller diameters rotate in the holes and fall out if the slide isn't in place.

 

Well, thats nice that you feel it is real. What does etched mean exactly in this context? If I had to guess, I would say it means a layer was literally etched away because it may have been corroded.(?)
I assume it would not grade then, but it would have some value for its details though? Or is it simply damaged goods.Sorry if that is a dumb question. I didn't pay very much for it, so maybe I will just keep it.

 

Agree with the others that the Large Cents vary quite a bit in size due to the open collar striking technique.

I have had to use custom fashioned shims to keep mine in place in my 7070 album:

 

I won't speak to the authenticity of the coin, but I wouldn't doubt it on account of it not fitting the 7070 hole. As others have already pointed out, that is a very common problem and one that almost all of us with 7070s have faced. If that's the only source of your concern, I hope this knowledge puts you at ease.

 

If I may be so bold as to speak for Conder, but that's precisely what he's suggesting.

It does have some value for it's details. It is, however, damaged goods. Your questions aren't dumb at all.

 

Thanks for the info everyone. This is all definitely a learning experience.

 

Etched as having been submersed for a period of time in a corrosive substance which acted on the entire coin in contrast to corroded where just a portion or small area has been attacked. And no there is no way this would grade except as a problem coin.

 

Sage advice, Rhino89, sound advice!