Fake! (I think) 1879 three cent nickel

Discussion in 'US Coins Forum' started by DippityDoo, Nov 3, 2015.

  1. DippityDoo

    DippityDoo New Member

    I bought this "1879 three cent nickel" online. Once in hand, I've decided it's fake. Did I make the right call?

    Reasons:

    1) Tone and surface appearance.
    2) Little to no lines in the roman "III" but nearly no wear in the wreath upper right.
    3) Fat looking date
    4) High detail on obverse hair at bottom, little to no detail and weak "Liberty" at top.
    5) Odd "stripe" - looks like artifact of some sort of fakery? - on coin edge.

    Here are photos beside the best unslabbed 1879 I have at the moment, then of the apparent fake itself. Thoughts?

    fake79compareobv.JPG fake79comparerev.JPG fake18793CNobv.jpg fake18793CNrev.JPG fake18793CNside.JPG
     
  2. Avatar

    Guest User Guest



    to hide this ad.
  3. rooman9

    rooman9 Lovin Shiny Things

    I'd say fake. The coin is fairly grainy and the edge of the coin looks odd.
     
  4. -jeffB

    -jeffB Greshams LEO Supporter

    Mushy obverse lettering, wreath details sinking/disappearing into field, grainy surface, funky edge. I'm no expert on this series, but I've seen those features on numerous fakes in many other denominations, and never, ever on a legitimate coin.
     
  5. DippityDoo

    DippityDoo New Member

    You are right on the wreath details sinking. To the naked eye, they look good. With magnification, they start looking bad.

    When I first looked at it with naked eye, I was struck by how the wreath detail looked good, especially at the upper right, which seems to wear first ... but despite the wreath looking good (with no magnification), there was a nearly complete absence of lines in the Roman III.

    All the 3CNs I have that show no wear on the wreath also show a full bold set of lines in the III.
     
  6. BATTERup646

    BATTERup646 Active Member

    The III on the back lost it's stripes. Weird, for an almost uncirculated coin. I'm sorry, but I'd bid fake. :(
     
  7. messydesk

    messydesk Well-Known Member

    Definitely fake.
     
  8. Paddy54

    Paddy54 Well-Known Member

    Fake sorry... I collect these never seen one like this....even faked the die crack on reverse .
     
  9. DippityDoo

    DippityDoo New Member

    No need to apologize. I got my money back. Now it's just a curiosity.
     
    coinman1234 likes this.
  10. coinman1234

    coinman1234 Not a Well-Known Member

    Also, the 1879 you used for reference is nice :) Sounds like you have a nice collection. I'm happy you got your money back.
     
Draft saved Draft deleted

Share This Page