So Ive started to dabble with pennies, and while going through a roll of wheat coins I came across this penny. From what Ive read its one of the most counterfieted coins and I wanted to get some feedback to see what you guys thought. I took it to the local coin shop here in town (small town) and he put it under his scope and looked at it, said he didnt see any initials below the shoulder and didnt mention any tooling marks that might suggest the coin was actually a 1944 D. But he really couldnt tell me if it was real. So I figured id pop on here and see what you guys think. Thanks for any info.
Thanks for the replies, is there anything specific I should be looking at that lets me know its a fake?
I would like to see a sharper photo of the date and especially the "D" mintmark as it is distinctive. Even without that, I have my suspicions. The surfaces don't appear normal, but all of the concerns could be from the photo.
Not sure if my camera could do any better but ill give it a couple tries, That date is so worn I think it makes the gap look bigger than it is. When viewed full size i cant see another 4 fitting into that space without touching the 9. But I am a Newb. =)
I also suspect that the coin is funny, but I tried to copy the right "4" over the "1". Problem is, it does not fit there. I know it is possible to move the "1", but I see no marks of that happening. If it is altered, they did one heck of a job.
It's a 1944-D that has had the crossbar and other parts of the first 4 removed. It was likely then cleaned and stripped before being retoned. This is sometimes done to make folks look at the wrong problems and not note that the coin is altered.
Tried to get some better pics but my camera just cant handle it. Thanks for all the info and opinions, next time I hit up a larger coinstore I will have them give it a look over and see what they think. Theres one registered with the PCGS Not to far away. I Will let you guys know what he says. Until then Ill be lurking the forums. Thanks again!
Another thing that has me confused is why would someone go to all the trouble of faking this and then Id find it in a roll of wheats i paid 5 bucks for. Would figure theyd be hard at work trying to sell if for some money. Anyway, thanks again for all the info, enjoying learning. =)
Backend of crossbar is visible on the 1. Shadow of the four can still be seen as well. One heck of a job, this would be an oldschool altered. Thankfully those guys aren't around anymore.
Hmm, not sure. That gap looks a little large, but I think I am leaning more towards genuine than not. Could go either way though.
I think it could be real. This may help http://coinauctionshelp.com/Coin_He...14-d-lincoln-cent-guide-identifyauthenticate/
I saw the post, so I took a scan of a 1944 S and opened it with paint and played with it a bit to rid the part of the 4 between the 9 and the first 4. It looks an awful lot like your coin. I left the right side of the 4, just to show a comparison. I think the distance between the 9 and the first 1 is too wide for a 1914 ? But I am a newbie too.