1796 Coin

I have recently come across a beautiful 1796 Draped Bust coin. I don't know if it is a quarter dollar or a half dollar. I would like some info on it and maybe a little history. Also, I would like to know how much it is worth if anything. For some reason I can not get a pic to attach... I may be doing it incorrectly. I am new to this.

Thanks!

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

What would you grade it as?

 

I have no idea... I am new to all of this. I am fascinated with coins but I have never bought/sold or graded any of the coins that I have. This is the oldest one I have come across and just fell in love with it....

 

We really need photos of both sides to be able to make any judgements on the coin. Many people using hosting sites such as photobucket to post their photos.

 

Welcome, astra.

The Mint did not put the denomination on the reverse of many silver and gold coins in 1796. In fact, the Mint did not put the denomination on quarters until 1804.

Compare your coin to a modern quarter. If your coin is a quarter it will be somewhat larger in diameter(~27.5 mm vs. 24.3 mm) and thinner than a modern quarter. If it is a half dollar it will be about the same diameter as a modern half dollar (maybe slightly larger) and it will have edge lettering saying "FIFTY CENTS OR HALF A DOLLAR".

Let us know what you find out.

 

It is a rather large coin... way bigger than a quarter. I am going to try the photobucket thing.

 

Wow... they are big pics and kind of blurry =/

 

You gave us a blurry picture and no perspective.

How about weighing or measuring diameter?

Qtr - 27.5 mm, 6.74 g.
Half - 32.5 mm, 13.5 g.
Dol - 40 mm, 27 g.

Here are some photos (qtr, half, dollar). There are varieties for the dollar w.r.t. date and letter size. Can't remember about the others.
Lance.

 

Even from the blurry pics I would bet that it's a Chinese counterfeit.

 

That is my strong suspicion too. A real half could be worth $100k, a quarter $40k. Even a dollar is $5k+ (problem-free coins, of course).

How did you acquire this coin, astraldeviant?
Lance.

 

No bet, it clearly is.

 

I know... but I like to wager... hahah!

 

Unless the coin is handed down generations from your family, it's probably a fake.

 

This lady I know... her dad left her a lot of coins and this one I just took a fancy to.

I have no way to measure it or weigh it right now. I tried to do better pics of it by using my scanner instead...

 

Oh yeah... these look a lot better. I really don't think it's counterfeit. Regardless it is still a beautiful coin and I still love it.

 

No doubt a counterfeit.

 

I think it's safe to say it is 100% fake. Sorry.
Lance.

 

1796 half dollars have the fraction 1/2 under the wreath.

 

Oh, yeah. That's a fake alright.

 

It's a counterfeit half dollar. Sorry.