Counterfeiters die?

My grandpa found this in Missouri while trimming weeds.

 

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That's what it looks like to me. That's a very, very cool find but I don't know if they are legal to own.

 

Well I'm sure it wouldn't be an issue, because it's so damaged it's not even usable. I'm pretty sure it was made out of silver. My Grandpa is the owner of it.

 

I think it was a splasher done from an original coin for kicks by some one back in the day. IMO the metal & the extreme weakness of design would not make this a die for striking nor pouring into for a mold to make a coin.

 

Yup. Probably Lead-composed, and definitely neat!! :thumb:

But for some reason, I feel like I've seen these pictures before... :scratch:

 

I concur. Definitely not a die - where would it be struck with the hammer? I'll add that this piece was probably created by pressing a piece of metal (I assume lead, but silver could also work) between two Morgan dollars.

 

I presume that it is 2 pieces?

And not a two sided piece?

 

The result of someone playing around in the tool shed.

 

Why would counterfeit dies be illegal to own?

 

This made me laugh.

 

Just playing devil's advocate here but the Hobby Act only requires counter-stamping "COPY" on replica coinage.

 

People in the business of counterfeiting don't usually abide by the law. Only when they are selling stamped copies cheaply at high volume, otherwise they just try to fool people to make their money.

 

I believe you missed the point of my post.

Is it against the law to produce a replica coin that is struck by a die even if that replica is counter-stamped as required by the Hobby Act?

 

Yes, counterfeiters die. Everybody does...

 

Somewhat a gray area I suppose.

 

Looks to me like a crude counterfeit coin made by squeezing a piece of metal between two coins.

 

What distinguishes a replica die from a counterfeit die?

 

A counterfeit die is a die made for making a copy of a coin that is used to deceive.

China uses these to make fake coins.

A replica die is used to make a coin that is easily distinguishable as a fake, one that has COPY stamped on it, oversize, undersized coins, and fantasy coins.

Coins with COPY stamped on them, are sometimes used to fill folders/albums where a certain date or mintmark could cost thousands.