1788 New Jersey Copper - Real or Fake?

Hey Every1! I came across a pretty interesting New Jersey Copper... But I cant tell if its real or not. It seems to have been done reasonably well if it is a fake, what do you think? Thanks in advance

 

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Not my area. However the variety with the horse's head facing left on the 1788 is listed as SCARCE. So I assume it is a fake, unless some experts weigh in.

 

But simply because a coin is scarce doesnt make it fake... I like the S over O , which seems consistant with the Maris 51g variety...

 

That's true. But the odds that it is fake, against the odds that it is a legit specimen
are huge. Get some opinions from experts. Until shown otherwise I am skeptical.

 

I agree... I cant seem to find any Maris 51g specimen photos in anything near this grade, but its quite an interesting piece which is why I had to ask you guys!

 

Without reviewing the piece in hand, I'd lean towards a replica. I hate to say "fake" when I feel this was intended to be a hole filler for an informed collector. The fields look off for a genuine 18th century copper.

 

I believe it's fake. Surfaces are too porous. I'm not experienced in these but took the time to try to ID the variety. Looks like Maris 51-g, which is listed as very rare. Stacks had an AU55 listed as 4th finest. I could only find a VF at Heritage. The letters don't match the Heritage piece, like they've been recut. Bowers "Colonial and Early American Coins" lists it as URS-7 (33-64 known) and only prices it up to XF ($12,500). Looks like a good cast fake.

 

I do see the porous surfaces, but its hard to match lettering for me because the known examples are such of a low grade. It seems to me this may not be your garden variety replica, is it an electrotype? Does it have any value whatsoever to an informed collector?

 

It's "fairly well done" as a fake, excepting the center weakness which is an instant disqualifier to anyone who's seen fakes of this type before.

That aside, another dead giveaway is just_how_good it is. Real ones don't have anything like this consistency of stroke, type and serifs (although they were sharp enough to add the overstrike on the S in CAESAREA, I'll give them that). They do, however, have far more detail in the horse's hair - even in poorly-preserved examples - than this one does.

It's a typical mass-produced fake, of a sort seen on virtually every issue which is faked, from Cents to Dollars.

 

Not my area either, but the absence of marks in the fields, and absence of dents along the rims, is a bit troubling. Does the raised "1" in the date help you identify? What about the relative positions of the points on the stars?

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SuperDave got there first, by a few seconds, with the key phrase "just how good it is...," although he was referring to design details, not wear or PMD.

 

It looks too clean to me.

 

Hey everybody... after a little google scouring, I have located an internet company who casts and sells these coins. This seems to match up with the one I have - I bought this coin amongst a handful of transit tokens sold as a 'well-done' reproduction. The collector also had some pole-cap cents at fairly good prices, so I took a chance as I couldnt get over the doubling and die crack on the obverse, I was hoping maybe it was an electroplate or something with some rarity.

SuperDave is correct, this seems to be a mass produced coin and after all is said and done, at least I got a handful of authentic transit tokens along with it, I estimate I paid about $8 for it. But the lesson I learned today is invaluable! Thanks again everyone for your help. This coin goes in the 'Fake' bucket. I have a few in there to keep it company.
P.S.>>The following photo's are of a casted replica coin (which SHOULD be marked 'copy' but are not) widely available for purchase.

Thank you again everyone for your help and knowledge.

 

Fake and not one that should fool anyone.

 

I think the coin in the last images definitely shouldnt fool anyone, and help quickly rule out the original posts photo's as a fake. I am not experienced with these types, so the issue I had with thinking it (the coin from the original post) was a very well done reproduction with possible rarity was due to the wear + toning and the source it came from (a long time collector with many early large cents)
It's obvious to me now that you guys pointed several issues out... Thanks again everyone

 

Yeah that's a cast fake if I ever saw one...

 

Good day. Is that post still a active about the 1788 New Jersey 51 g coins?

 

I realize this post is 7 years old but while researching my 5-51g now assume are not authentic ran into this old post.
I have 5 of these coins in what look like a Matt finishes not glossy as in this post replying to. They indeed have the same die cracks . Since this post is over 7 years old have to ask since these were said available back then why are we not seeing them sold on eBay like the ones stamped “copy” on eBay?
Why my 5 are interesting is 3 of three have mint errors on them. Two of them from two obverse coins stuck on each other. The other with two digs on it. Have anyone seen these no doubt man made on purpose errors.? I need to know have to put up pics of them please and if any others exist. Gary

 

Even the unknowing have become knowing, concerning scams/fakes/blarney/BS "coins", and avoidance rates have increased accordingly.

The unknowing that are still imbibing in forking over the wampum for such less-than-trinkets "coins" will probably not become knowing, and usually it is because they will scam some other unknowing victim and that is why this class of unknowing still do so.

The chances of your pieces you are describing being legitimate numismatic "treasures" are....to paraphrase a shark hunter..."slim to none, Martin; slim to none".

That is all I have to say about that.

 

Thanks Charlie
I don’t think if u read my post I thought they were authentic and accepting the wisdom of u folks on here that they are not. My questions or comments is about someone here found out who was making them and would like to know “ The test of the story” . Again no doubt they are fakes and thought it interesting making them look like error coins. Simple as that . So thanks for your Welcome Well Known Member. Just doing my research not trying to market them. Anyone else I would appreciate comments from it please keep the snarky remarks to yourself.

 

Sigh.....

Charley, BTW, but that is OK.