1776 New Hanpshire half penny Very Rare!!

I am new to this and have been going through all of my coins that have been handed down to me through my grandpa. I would like to figure out if this penny is an original or a replica. I think this a very rare coin as it is not in our coin booklet. The W.M. Stands for William Moulton who made the coin. Our pattern does not match the pattern in our books. Please help me as their are no small numbers on the coin and is definitely imperfect like someone hand made it. Please any info you have would be greatly appreciated. Pictures are attached

 

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Can you provide a better picture? Preferably as close as possible while still in focus, and then just crop the extra space out.
Thanks

 

https://coinreplicas.com/product/new-hampshire-halfpenny-1776/

 

so you are saying it’s a copy without the word copy on it??? So can you show me a picture of a “non replica” because it would look just like the “real” coin without “copy” on it. Do you see my point. Please send a view of the real coin

 

Replicas of this coin have been available for years. Readers Digest even included it, along with copies of other colonial coins as a promotion of you subscribed to the magazine. Copies show up regularly on forums like CT.

Edit: I suggest you search third party graders like PCGS or NGC or possibly major numismatic auction houses like Heritage or Stacks to find a pic of a genuine coin. They usually have excellent pics so you can compare yours. They probably also provide weights and dimensions

If you still think you've beaten the Lotto odds and don't believe the advice from experienced collectors, pony up the $100 +/- and submit it to PCGS or NGC. I'm confident it will come back as a copy but it's your money

 

This coin happens to be 23 mm and not 25 as well like it says on this replica site. Is there any other way to tell the difference between real and copy.

 

You can buy them for about $15.00 on the Internet. Welcome to CT. This one was made before the word copy was required.

 

I understand that many replicas are made. That’s fine. If mine does not say “copy” and doesn’t fit 25mm like the replica site says. Where can I find details of an original as I’m not going to assume it’s a replica because there are replicas out there and it does not say “copy”. Both don’t prove it’s a replica IMO...

 

Can anyone show me an original then? Or the description of an original as again the two replica details given don’t match my coin.

 

Try reading post #6 again.

 

There is a difference between a "copy" and a "replica". A copy is produced from a known design but a replica may be produced from the description of an unknown design. If you read the information contained in the Red Book about the New Hampshire Half Penny, you will note that it does not include an image of any design that was proposed by William Moulton. It is believed that he cast patterns that were never approved, and there is no evidence that any coins were ever circulated. Therefore, any coin like the one you posted is highly suspect.

How can you expect anyone to post a photo of a real one when a real one doesn't really exist? Furthermore, the legislation that required the word "COPY" to be stamped on facsimile coins is not that old. Many of these replicas were produced long before it ever became a law.

Chris

 

You may be right, but the two details you have told me that indicate it’s a replica don’t relate to this coin (copy and 25mm). I hope you understand that I could have doubt. That’s all. Thanks for your time. This isn’t a coin I’ve just found either. My grandfather has many coins worth a lot of money that have all been researched and marked. This is why I’m not just assuming. Hope you understand. Thanks again.

 

So again, since it may be replica I should assume it is? I’m not comprehending. Here is an old coin book my grandfather had marked with the coin. Which has it in there. Again, this is not a coin I’ve just been given hence it all taped up and discolored with a description on it.

 

It looks as though I will spend the money to get it looked at by someone local or one of those houses you guys have mentioned. Thank you again.

 

If you doubt the information that we have given you, then your only option would be to spend the money to submit it for authentication to either NGC or PCGS. If you do choose to submit your coin for authentication, my only request is that you come back here and let us know the results. For me, if I am wrong, I would like to know.

Chris

 

A "local" person is not in the position to authenticate a coin.

Chris

 

Brad..... Welcome to CT. One thing to keep in mind here is every day many, many cast copies, parking lot damaged coins and the like show up on this forum. And every day it becomes quite hard to dash folks dreams on a daily basis..... Now fact is, everyone here would be truly thrilled to know your granddads coin is the real article. But knowing what these guys know, and the many years they have invested in numismatics (it's an addiction for us), when you see something that's just a bit too good to be true, these guys know from years of experience that it probably is just that. Too good to be true. Just know that the CT crowd is genuine in their educated assessments. If you should find the piece to be the real thing, these guys will also be your biggest cheerleaders.

 

All those things on the side with the tree look quite like plating blisters on zincoln cents. Makes me think that this copy is some junk base metal that was plated.

 

No you shouldn't, and nobody has suggested you "assume" it's a replica. All they've said is that there are a lot of good reasons you should doubt it's authenticity until proven otherwise.

You yourself posted a couple of items that cast doubt. Your grandfather's book echoes what @cpm9ball said, "It appears that after patterns were made and offered for inspection to the states committee, they were not approved." Meaning, they were not minted in larger quantities for circulation.

Also, the text and image on the packaging of the coin — that's professionally executed, and strongly suggests it was done for the marketing of a replica coin or replica set. And the end of the second sentence, "...an original half penny is valued at..." suggests that what's in the package isn't original.

A quick Google search shows that there have been a number of replica offerings of this coin, some stamped with "copy" and some created before that became law.

I hope it's real. That would be way cool. But I doubt it's real. Oh, and welcome to CT.