Is it possible that the ground has given up an extreme rarity?

click refresh on this page for pics and specs http://www.coinfacts.com/half_dollars/seated_liberty_half_dollars/1853o_half_dollar.htm

 

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I would think with both Conder stating the date was off
, then Books overlay of the ops coin with a known authentic coin this discussion would be pretty much over as to it being a fake . I doubt if more than 1 set of dies were used to make the 5 known pieces , since they don't match the ops coin isn't real . Still it could be worth some money if it turns out to be a contemporary counterfeit .

 

Good spirited read dear fellows.......

 

I had another opportunity to speak with the fellow who found it. It was dug up either in Southwest Alabama or on a relatives farm near Monroe, Louisiana. He isn't sure which, because his various finds were mixed together.

Does anyone know if any of the grading services will tell you if it's a contemporary counterfeit even if they won't grade it? It looks like only ICG will "grade" the old counterfeits. One thing that seems highly unlikely is the possibility of a modern forgery, considering it was found buried.

 

The coin is not a genuine 53-O No Arrows, so I honestly see no reason or sense to still be considering a submission. With that said, I see nothing wrong with trying, for the learning experience, to discover exactly what it is as long as any hope of a great windfall is gone.

 

It's ashame you guys are so good, I was really rooting for that to be real even though I knew the odds were very slim. Would have been a great discovery.

 

So you basically think it's a contemporary counterfeit?

 

I have seen contemporary counterfeits with old damage. Upon discovery of being a counterfeit the person may have attempted to deface the coin... Or at least damaging it enough to make one look a little harder at it. It's also possible that this is exactly how it ended up buried as it might have been cast off by someone not wanting another person to try to pass it off.

 

Time to get it authenticated. I'd send it to ANACS first-lower cost and they could determine if it's the real deal. If genuine, then I'd get it into a PCGS slab.

 

Ok I have news, so the weight is 11.51 grams. Now how would one confirm that it's a CONTEMPORARY counterfeit? And how would one rule out with certainty that it's not a genuine coin that was made with different dies than the other ones? Could they really do that at NGC or are they just going to be scratching their heads like us?

 

They'll know how many dies were used, it should only be one set. So there should be no variation from piece to piece.

I would send to PCGS only AFTER knowing it was genuine.

I'm sure sure a dealer here (not me) would send it in for you so you don't have to pay hundreds to find out its a fake.

 

There is little chance that a short run of only five coins would have used two sets of dies, so as much as I was rooting for the discovery of a true rarity, I think it's time to admit that it is a counterfeit.

@LostDutchman, would a contemporary counterfeit in this shape hold any value?

 

Here is a page from the original WB book regarding the 53-O (scroll down to read about the No Arrows examples, three of which were known at the time of publication):

http://blog.davidlawrence.com/index.php/seated-half-dollars-1853-o/


As Kirk said, it's best to let go of any remaining hope that the coin is a genuine 53-O No Arrows: it simply is not. I too would have loved to see this one pan out, but this isn't the first time and probably isn't the last.

As for a value of a contemporary counterfeit in this shape, there really will be no set value as generally speaking, many who collect such "coins" are likely to have little interest because of condition. However, considering what it purports to be, it is possible, even likely that this would be your saving grace. To put it simply, it is worth something, particularly to the right person if indeed this is what it is, but you are not looking at a great deal of money.

 

She's sure had a rough life, found in the ocean?....

 

Most likely near coastal Alabama, but not on the beach or water. Just under the ground, like on a farm or trail or something like that.

 

Well it certainly appears to be a contemporary counterfeit. My experience is mostly with CCs of foreign coins, but many of those are also copper or bronze that is silver or gold washed. The scans do show signs of old silver wash.
A contemporary counterfeit only has to pass as genuine one time, so it will not stand the test of time very well at all. I don't personally collect contemporary counterfeits, but if I did, this one would be of interest.

 

I'd still send it in for authentication. I know others have mentioned other diagnostics, but 11.51 grams may indicate that the weight is correct with the amount of metal missing from that coin.

 

IF it could be reasonably determined that t was a contemporary counterfeit of a 53 O no arrows half and not an alteration I would thnk it would definitely have a premium value (At least to certain people) I know it would to me.