Is this really a coin at all? My dad seemed to think it was some sort of test piece for an old half dollar. The reverse is blank. Any opinion?
Howdy thinkiam - Welcome to the Forum !! I checked all the US pattern half dollars - no match there I can find, nothing even close. It could be another denomination - but that's a lot of checking. You can run through some of them if you like - Click Here scroll to the bottom of the page and click on a date range.
I would lean toward a contract Pattern or test Pattern coin but not really sure! Run it by the experts at Bowers & Merena or Heritage Coins and they might know. Frank
When you do find out, be sure to let us know. I am curious now, since it does resemble the Confederate cent design (including stars on the headband). And there's no such thing as "just a token or medal"!
no! that's a coin alright, i remember on another forum someone found one, and it had the same liberty on it. Give me some time and ill find a picture of it. edit: whoops, its not a coin... Its a Civil War, Army and Navy Token, congrats. edit again: the only thing different is the neck... hmm or it could be this:
I think that both cyclonus11 and Magman are on to something! It is possible that you have a Test Strike for either a Confederate Cent or a Civil War Token, in which several variations of similar design. These were struck to get an idea of what they looked like on an actual coin and were done before adding any the Date, Motto and other lettering to the approved engraving. Frank
The Confederate Cent and Civil War token both are remarkably similar to my father's token/coin, but are they halfdollar size? This thing measures about an inch and 1/4.....it's considerably larger then a US large cent. I'm still waiting to hear from Heritage on an identification, and will pass on the info when I get it. Do test strikes have any value?
thinkiam, Test Strikes have been done on planchets of different makeup and/or different size! They were done to get an idea of which planchet is more aesthetically pleasing to the Public, to test which planchet will hold up better to circulation and were usually used for submission for approval (several were minted and passed around to the approving Officials so that they could get a feel and look of the coin). It is hard to say about Confederate coins and Civil War Tokens but documented and authenticated Test Strike specimens done by the Mints usually fetch high premiums! Frank
I cant say for sure, i just knew where to find the pictures of the coin. Good luck with your ID though
