what is the original half penny worth? ive looked on the net, but can only find replicas. this one does not have copy on it.
My 2010 Red Book lists your coin's value as a dash, which means "there are no current sales or auction records". The last recorded auction for the 1776 New Hampshire Copper was in 1980 where a VG example sold for $13,000. The Red Book says, "Little of the proposed coinage was ever actually circulated." Based on this information it is highly likely your example is either a counterfeit or a copy. (Copies made before the HPA (Hobby Protection Act) went into effect in 1973 were not required to have the word 'COPY' on them.) Could you please post good photos of the obverse and reverse of your coin?
I do not collect American coins but have been shown more of these than certainly real ones are known to exist (is three about right?). As I recall, the originals were patterns and at least some were made by casting so an edge seam is not a 100% certain sign of a fake. I recall being told that most fakes are too light so anything under about 5g. is 99.99% fake while heavier coins are only 99.9% certain to be fake. One of the fakes I was shown (by my dentist who figures anyone who collects ancient coins would know about 1776???) had a prominent die break making the coin look even more awful than most. I wonder how many different fakers have made these over the years?
