Ok here is a more focused image of the coin and I apologize for so many pics fro those that use data but my carpel tunnel is acting up and its hard for me to hold the scope to get a full pic. I also weighed it and it weighs 10.6 grams so who ever tried to counterfeit this tried hard lol. I really think you hit it on the head on this.
The coin looks cast to me, even before I looked at the 2nd set of pics that was my opinion. The small centered circle on the rev, unless I miss my guess that was the sprue of the mold. Centering points are typically much smaller, and a single point not a circle like this is. But sprues - they look exactly like this - a circle that is filled in the center. And the weakness on the obv in the hair at the back of the neck, base of the skull, I'm guessing that's where wax pooled as it melted in the rest of the mold. Granted, cast coins typically have the bubbles, depressions, pits, scattered about here and there - but they don't always have them. With well made copies, those where a vibrator is used correctly as the metal is poured - all of that disappears. Could I be wrong about all of it ? Sure ! But I don't think I am. Nahhhh - I had other obligations that needed tending that day
The denticles look wrong. They look more like match stick heads in some places. The date looks to big and clumsy. Cast or minted??
What's the point of faking this coin? Seems like a lot of risk for low return and 20 years in federal prison.
While I understand your line of thinking, it's an error made by many. For example, are you aware that the $1 bill is counterfeited far more often than any other bill of any denomination ? It's true. But do you know why the counterfeiters do that ? Because almost nobody would even look at a $1 bill ! So they get away with it with very low risk and a lot of return. Same thing applies to common coins. The reasoning is volume more than makes up for low return per unit. It's one of the basic rules of business.
Center dots lasted til around the mid 19th century. Until after about 1867 when the mint got their first portrait lathe that allowed the mint to make master hubs from a model, master dies were still made by hubbing the central device and the hand punching the lettering. The center dot placement of the compass was required for laying out guide lines for the lettering. These master dies would than be used to create working hubs. I also believe the OP piece is struck.
I wondered if you'd come to the believed correct conclusion of an "investment/die cast" piece, as I've seen produced on our proprietary designed equipment for accurate replication of small detailed parts. Good Assessment!! Respectfully, Rich JMHO
If you look, you can find centering marks into the 1840s. It shows up most on half and large cents because nothing was engraved ot punched over it on the reverse - just lettering. Sometimes you can find the dot in the shield on the reverse of bust halves.