Hi folks, I'm a lurker, I believe this will likely be my first post, and am seeking some counsel. I have been a casual coin collector over the years. I got interested based on the combination of history, artistic appeal, and instrisic value of coins (as monetary items and precious metal content). A while back, I was given 18 pieces from an uncle. They are an odd lot of things. Date ranges for US items go all the way back to the colonial era. If some are genuine, they could be quite rare and valuable, but that's likely a long shot. The thing that gives me pause about that statement is that my uncle was married to a lady who is part of a well known (quite wealthy) family that has been around the New England/New York area literally since the puritan days. Her mother was known to hand him things to take home. He wasn't into coins that I knew of so these could have come to him through her. I've been searching for anyone that can help me analyze these and provide some insight as to whether any of these are genuine or not, and value. I've tried in the past but haven't found anyone seems to have much knowledge about them. I have a list below of the 18 items, and a few pictures of some (I'm at work and my flash drive only has a few pix). [TABLE="width: 499"] [TD="class: xl69, width: 61, bgcolor: transparent"]Denom [/TD] [TD="class: xl72, width: 61, bgcolor: transparent"]Year [/TD] [TD="class: xl72, width: 215, bgcolor: transparent"]Description [/TD] [TD="class: xl92, width: 89, bgcolor: transparent"]Diameter (Inches) [/TD] [TD="class: xl92, width: 89, bgcolor: transparent"]Diameter (mm) [/TD] [TD="class: xl87, width: 75, bgcolor: transparent"]Wt. (Grams) [/TD] [TD="class: xl87, width: 75, bgcolor: transparent"]Wt. (Grains) [/TD] [TD="class: xl76, bgcolor: transparent"]- [/TD] [TD="class: xl75, bgcolor: transparent"]1776 [/TD] [TD="class: xl77, width: 215, bgcolor: transparent"]Continental "CURENCY" [/TD] [TD="class: xl93, width: 89, bgcolor: transparent"]1.510 [/TD] [TD="class: xl93, width: 89, bgcolor: transparent"]38.354 [/TD] [TD="class: xl88, width: 75, bgcolor: transparent"]18.1 [/TD] [TD="class: xl93, width: 75, bgcolor: transparent"]279.319 [/TD] [TD="class: xl80, bgcolor: transparent"]- [/TD] [TD="class: xl79, bgcolor: transparent"][/TD] [TD="class: xl81, width: 215, bgcolor: transparent"]Bar Copper [/TD] [TD="class: xl94, width: 89, bgcolor: transparent"]0.967 [/TD] [TD="class: xl94, width: 89, bgcolor: transparent"]24.562 [/TD] [TD="class: xl89, width: 75, bgcolor: transparent"]5.9 [/TD] [TD="class: xl89, width: 75, bgcolor: transparent"]91.0 [/TD] [TD="class: xl80, bgcolor: transparent"]- [/TD] [TD="class: xl79, bgcolor: transparent"]1776 [/TD] [TD="class: xl81, width: 215, bgcolor: transparent"]Unknown copper coin ?Pine Tree? [/TD] [TD="class: xl94, width: 89, bgcolor: transparent"]1.000 [/TD] [TD="class: xl94, width: 89, bgcolor: transparent"]25.400 [/TD] [TD="class: xl89, width: 75, bgcolor: transparent"]5.9 [/TD] [TD="class: xl89, width: 75, bgcolor: transparent"]91.0 [/TD] [TD="class: xl80, bgcolor: transparent"]0.01 [/TD] [TD="class: xl79, bgcolor: transparent"]1788 [/TD] [TD="class: xl81, width: 215, bgcolor: transparent"]Massachusetts Cent [/TD] [TD="class: xl94, width: 89, bgcolor: transparent"]1.082 [/TD] [TD="class: xl94, width: 89, bgcolor: transparent"]27.483 [/TD] [TD="class: xl89, width: 75, bgcolor: transparent"]8.7 [/TD] [TD="class: xl89, width: 75, bgcolor: transparent"]134.3 [/TD] [TD="class: xl80, bgcolor: transparent"]- [/TD] [TD="class: xl79, bgcolor: transparent"][/TD] [TD="class: xl81, width: 215, bgcolor: transparent"]Virginia Half penny [/TD] [TD="class: xl94, width: 89, bgcolor: transparent"]1.086 [/TD] [TD="class: xl94, width: 89, bgcolor: transparent"]27.584 [/TD] [TD="class: xl89, width: 75, bgcolor: transparent"]9.6 [/TD] [TD="class: xl89, width: 75, bgcolor: transparent"]148.1 [/TD] [TD="class: xl80, bgcolor: transparent"][/TD] [TD="class: xl79, bgcolor: transparent"][/TD] [TD="class: xl81, width: 215, bgcolor: transparent"]Uknown Token (J.S.O., CAL - 5 DOLLS) [/TD] [TD="class: xl94, width: 89, bgcolor: transparent"]0.809 [/TD] [TD="class: xl94, width: 89, bgcolor: transparent"]20.549 [/TD] [TD="class: xl89, width: 75, bgcolor: transparent"]4.0 [/TD] [TD="class: xl89, width: 75, bgcolor: transparent"]61.7 [/TD] [TD="class: xl80, bgcolor: transparent"][/TD] [TD="class: xl79, bgcolor: transparent"]1652 [/TD] [TD="class: xl81, width: 215, bgcolor: transparent"]Pine Tree Coin [/TD] [TD="class: xl94, width: 89, bgcolor: transparent"]1.022 [/TD] [TD="class: xl94, width: 89, bgcolor: transparent"]25.959 [/TD] [TD="class: xl89, width: 75, bgcolor: transparent"]8.6 [/TD] [TD="class: xl89, width: 75, bgcolor: transparent"]132.7 [/TD] [TD="class: xl80, bgcolor: transparent"][/TD] [TD="class: xl79, bgcolor: transparent"]1824 [/TD] [TD="class: xl81, width: 215, bgcolor: transparent"]Uknown Token (My Substitute for the US Bank, Experiment My Currency My Glory - Perish Credit, Perish Commerce) [/TD] [TD="class: xl94, width: 89, bgcolor: transparent"]1.081 [/TD] [TD="class: xl94, width: 89, bgcolor: transparent"]27.457 [/TD] [TD="class: xl89, width: 75, bgcolor: transparent"]8.9 [/TD] [TD="class: xl89, width: 75, bgcolor: transparent"]137.3 [/TD] [TD="class: xl80, bgcolor: transparent"][/TD] [TD="class: xl79, bgcolor: transparent"][/TD] [TD="class: xl81, width: 215, bgcolor: transparent"]Washington Piece [/TD] [TD="class: xl94, width: 89, bgcolor: transparent"]1.188 [/TD] [TD="class: xl94, width: 89, bgcolor: transparent"]30.175 [/TD] [TD="class: xl89, width: 75, bgcolor: transparent"]9.9 [/TD] [TD="class: xl89, width: 75, bgcolor: transparent"]152.8 [/TD] [TD="class: xl80, bgcolor: transparent"][/TD] [TD="class: xl79, bgcolor: transparent"]1778-9 [/TD] [TD="class: xl81, width: 215, bgcolor: transparent"]Rhode Island Ship Medal [/TD] [TD="class: xl94, width: 89, bgcolor: transparent"]1.267 [/TD] [TD="class: xl94, width: 89, bgcolor: transparent"]32.182 [/TD] [TD="class: xl89, width: 75, bgcolor: transparent"]11.1 [/TD] [TD="class: xl89, width: 75, bgcolor: transparent"]171.3 [/TD] [TD="class: xl80, bgcolor: transparent"][/TD] [TD="class: xl79, bgcolor: transparent"]1787 [/TD] [TD="class: xl81, width: 215, bgcolor: transparent"]Brasher Dubloon (copper copy?) [/TD] [TD="class: xl94, width: 89, bgcolor: transparent"]1.163 [/TD] [TD="class: xl94, width: 89, bgcolor: transparent"]29.540 [/TD] [TD="class: xl89, width: 75, bgcolor: transparent"]7.9 [/TD] [TD="class: xl89, width: 75, bgcolor: transparent"]121.9 [/TD] [TD="class: xl80, bgcolor: transparent"][/TD] [TD="class: xl79, bgcolor: transparent"]1652 [/TD] [TD="class: xl81, width: 215, bgcolor: transparent"]Oak Tree Coin [/TD] [TD="class: xl94, width: 89, bgcolor: transparent"]1.008 [/TD] [TD="class: xl94, width: 89, bgcolor: transparent"]25.603 [/TD] [TD="class: xl89, width: 75, bgcolor: transparent"]8.2 [/TD] [TD="class: xl89, width: 75, bgcolor: transparent"]126.5 [/TD] [TD="class: xl80, bgcolor: transparent"][/TD] [TD="class: xl79, bgcolor: transparent"][/TD] [TD="class: xl81, width: 215, bgcolor: transparent"]New England Shilling [/TD] [TD="class: xl94, width: 89, bgcolor: transparent"]1.000 [/TD] [TD="class: xl94, width: 89, bgcolor: transparent"]25.400 [/TD] [TD="class: xl89, width: 75, bgcolor: transparent"]6.2 [/TD] [TD="class: xl89, width: 75, bgcolor: transparent"]95.7 [/TD] [TD="class: xl80, bgcolor: transparent"][/TD] [TD="class: xl79, bgcolor: transparent"][/TD] [TD="class: xl81, width: 215, bgcolor: transparent"]Greek Tetra Drachma [/TD] [TD="class: xl94, width: 89, bgcolor: transparent"]0.800 [/TD] [TD="class: xl94, width: 89, bgcolor: transparent"]20.320 [/TD] [TD="class: xl89, width: 75, bgcolor: transparent"]8.6 [/TD] [TD="class: xl89, width: 75, bgcolor: transparent"]132.7 [/TD] [TD="class: xl80, bgcolor: transparent"]18.00 [/TD] [TD="class: xl79, bgcolor: transparent"][/TD] [TD="class: xl81, width: 215, bgcolor: transparent"]Gold Ingot (Meyers, & Co., 1 oz. Troy, $18.00) [/TD] [TD="class: xl94, width: 89, bgcolor: transparent"][/TD] [TD="class: xl94, width: 89, bgcolor: transparent"]- [/TD] [TD="class: xl89, width: 75, bgcolor: transparent"]5.2 [/TD] [TD="class: xl89, width: 75, bgcolor: transparent"]80.2 [/TD] [TD="class: xl80, bgcolor: transparent"]10.00 [/TD] [TD="class: xl79, bgcolor: transparent"]1850 [/TD] [TD="class: xl81, width: 215, bgcolor: transparent"]Baldwin SF Gold (Copy?) [/TD] [TD="class: xl94, width: 89, bgcolor: transparent"]1.005 [/TD] [TD="class: xl94, width: 89, bgcolor: transparent"]25.527 [/TD] [TD="class: xl89, width: 75, bgcolor: transparent"]7.4 [/TD] [TD="class: xl89, width: 75, bgcolor: transparent"]114.2 [/TD] [TD="class: xl80, bgcolor: transparent"]20.00 [/TD] [TD="class: xl79, bgcolor: transparent"]1855 [/TD] [TD="class: xl81, width: 215, bgcolor: transparent"]Blake & Co $20 (Copy?) [/TD] [TD="class: xl94, width: 89, bgcolor: transparent"]1.255 [/TD] [TD="class: xl94, width: 89, bgcolor: transparent"]31.877 [/TD] [TD="class: xl89, width: 75, bgcolor: transparent"]12.9 [/TD] [TD="class: xl89, width: 75, bgcolor: transparent"]199.1 [/TD] [TD="class: xl84, bgcolor: transparent"]10.00 [/TD] [TD="class: xl83, bgcolor: transparent"]1849 [/TD] [TD="class: xl85, width: 215, bgcolor: transparent"]Mormon Gold (copy?) [/TD] [TD="class: xl95, width: 89, bgcolor: transparent"]0.953 [/TD] [TD="class: xl95, width: 89, bgcolor: transparent"]24.206 [/TD] [TD="class: xl90, width: 75, bgcolor: transparent"]7.9 [/TD] [TD="class: xl90, width: 75, bgcolor: transparent"]121.9 [/TD] [/TABLE] A few of the pix I currently have right here. I welcome any guidance and suggestions and thank folks in advance.
Most of the pics to me appear false. I would really say it would be best to take these to a show since you are correct some of these could be authentic, and the only real way to tell is having the coin in hand. Photos are great, but are never a substitute for seeing in person. Chris
They look like fakes to me,sorry. The California gold piece has a different metal showing in some places, making it gold plated most likely, the 1652 looks to be a poor cast fake with the pitting, and I know nothing about the ingot honestly, but also appears to be a cast and I think I am seeing white/silver metal around the edges?
Chris: Thanks for the quick look and reply. I think there's a show near me in the next few weeks. I'll bring them around for some feedback. Like I said, probability is low for authenticity (only had a few pix right now as well). I think the weight of some of these also point to their not being legit. I do appreciate the input.
I am suspicious too. Have you tried a magnet on the gold pieces? I agree a show (or local B&M) is the right place to start. Anything believed to be genuine and valuable should be considered for professional grading. Lance.
All of the pictured pieces are fakes. From the weights listed all the rest of them are as well with the exception of the Bar cent and the 1824 token. But the 1824 is fake because the date doesn't match the coin. Continential dollar 20% too heavy bar cent weight is close this appears to be your best chance but considering the rest of the pieces 1776 Mass tree cent In 150 years only one genuine piece has shown up This is the MOST faked colonial coin. 50% light 1788 Mass cent Almost 2 grams too light Virginia half penny 75% too heavy J.S.O., CAL - 5 DOLLS too light by about a gram or so. 1652 pine tree shilling fake way too heavy Unknown Token This is a hard times token, problem is the date should be 1837 New England Shilling fake 50% over weight Gold Ingot (Meyers, & Co., 1 oz. Troy, $18.00) fake 84% too light Baldwin SF Gold fake appearance and too light Blake & Co $20 fake appearance and more than 50% too light $10 Mormon Gold Almost 50% too light.
