1861 CONFEDERATE CENT

I have what looks like a 1861 confederate cent. Ive looked for identifying clues to see if its fake but im having a hard time. Heres some pics. Its in rough shape.

 

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How did you acquire it? It's in bad shape as you said and this will make it had to prove as real.

You may want to send it in to a certification group and see what gos. You may have a winner. Someone at any of the certification companies should be able to tell you. Take it to a major coin show, and see what happens, Just keep it in your sight.

 

Was in a box in an attic in Nashville TN, The home was from the late 1800s

 

What is the metal? Looks kinda silvery nickel Ish rather than copper or copper nickel they did some early restrikes in the 1870s this looks to have some serious die breaks or cancellation marks on the reverse it obviously looks circulated but was it a restrike that was carried as a pocket piece? There's been several restrikes from the original dies too they broke badly after the first round of them is interesting but i need more info it doesn't look like a modern fake tho now if only the south had won...

 

I have no idea of the metal.? Looks like copper-nickel? As if the copper on the out side of the coin is wearing off perhaps.?

 

I have a restrike of the 1861 as well, but unsure if mine is a Bashlow 2nd strike or a copy of it. But in researching it I learned there never was a true 1861 Confederate Cent. It was commissioned but never struck. A few were later minted until the die broke, and Bashlow later made new dies and struck those in 1961.

Due to the gouges on the reverse it looks like a Bashlow, but no idea why it would look so circulated for something what was never legal currency.

Let me know if you learn more though, I've been interested even though mine is heading to the mail box tomorrow

Oh, good history here: http://www.coinfacts.com/confederate_coins/1861_confederate_cent.htm

 

Here's the reverse of mine, that "may" be a Bashlow 2nd Strike. I've received conflicting input so I gave up. This one, and all pics I can find of a Bashlow show three gouges or breaks on the reverse, yours only has two. Yet, before the dies broke there would have been none. Maybe you have one of the last made right when they broke? Fun to think about anyway

Pardon my poor photo skills...

 

Does upon research appear to be very similar to a bashlow restrike in zinc but I don't see the third die cancellation on the reverse it does appear to have the die corrosion all I can think is someone bought a bashlow restrike and carried it as a pocket piece (a civil war reenactor perhaps?) the only explanation for the wear either that or its something that's got me completely beat and I'd love to know more

 

I need to get this to PCGS. Only problem is I dont have an account with them.

 

1960 Thru 1962
All the Confederation Southern States had 100-200k made and Copy sold for the 100th Av . It has No die cracks on it.
Plus the Biggest thing is their No Copy sold on eBay doctored to look 253?yrs old .
I own one my wife mom and dad had Bu +Red .
I will post it if photo is on my desktop in the am.
Remember Do Not buy one on eBay unless its Graded by a Tpg ..

 

No, you don't need to send it anywhere.

 

Why not?

 

I'd say be sure of what it is first. It sure looks like a Bashlow to me, and if it is it's so heavily worn it's not worth sending in. Determine if it's something else first. It's not one of those struck by Lovett or Hazeltine before the die break, so it's a restrike of some sort. I'm NO expert though and curious myself, just saying I don't think you should rush in sending that off

Mainbill, looking closer at his picture is it possible that third die gouge was simply worn away? Looking near the 3'Oclock position where the missing one should be it looks like it may be visible right at the edge.

 

I suppose you're welcome to try, but you won't like the outcome.

Copies of copies of copies have, and are still being sold as novelty trinkets. Just trust me on this one.

 

Upon close examination I am seeing what could be the third cancellation between one and cent I will be honest I've never seen a bashlow restrike anywhere near this worn but was my first thought and I'm convinced that's what it is

 

Well, as a reenactor myself I can tell you I've seen MANY sand, file, or beat coins and many other things to make them look more accurate. I got my Bashlow, if it is, for free when someone told me I needed to be have some money in my haversack. That was in the early 80's and at that time a Bashlow was just a "fake" and only became collectible later. Sad if that's what happened to this one though.

 

If you're a reenactor, is it safe to assume that you've at least traveled to some of the major battlefields? If so, and I will admit that its been a while since I've done so, but have you looked around any of the "souvenir" or trinket shops? It is, or at least was, not uncommon to find so-called "Confederate coins" - the cent, half, and different fantasy-type pieces - offered for sale. Most all were low quality, pot metal junk that, while in better shape, remind me of the OP's example. Just because it appears similar to a Bashlow does not automatically mean that it is one.

 

If you use the search feature above ( under your name) you will find many threads and references on these coins/tokens. What is the weight and dimensions of this object? I think it is a replica also. Just because a house is hundreds of years old, doesn't mean that someone didn't put it in the attic 40 or 50 years ago. Look at the other threads,

 

LOTS of junk, lol. From things that look homemade to bright, shiny and new. It still doesn't prove it's a Bashlow by any means, but like you said they usually are junk, or even more modern copies without those raised strike-throughs on the reverse. Even if it IS a Bashlow though they aren't worth much anyway unless pristine so it probably doesn't matter, unless possibly being zinc does? It is also more likely to be a Bashlow than a rare original CW coin he hoped for to send to PCGS though.

 

http://www.cointalk.com/threads/1862-confederate-penny-uncirculated.85976/#post-775712
Hex I was wrong is date my copy is date 1862Brain Fart # 11111111111111111111111111111111222222222222222222222222222222655555432