I know that this thread is for US coins but I'm not sure where this question belongs. I dug up two coins yesterday here in New Jersey. I would guess that they are counterfeit. Could anyone here tell what type of counterfeit coins they are. Thanks for any input.
It is indeed quite possible they’re counterfeit, but contemporary 18th century counterfeits. As I suspect you know, some of those locally US-made counterfeits (Machin’s Mills, etc.) can be worth more than a genuine regal issue George III halfpenny struck in Britain. But I don’t have the specialist knowledge to help you there. Perhaps someone here will. As many collectors of Colonial American coinage are the sort of folks you want to hear from, I do think this thread is well placed in the US rather than World forum. Congrats! Cool finds!
@Cannonball, cool finds. It doesn't matter if they are genuine or contemporary counterfeits - both are collectible although as @lordmarcovan said, the counterfeits are often worth more. I took a quick look through my Whitman's Encyclopedia of Colonial and Early American Coins at the Machins Mills entries and could find only one entry dated 1775. That is the 1775 Vlack 4-75A. To quote the text: "Obverse: Deeply cut obverse die that almost gives the illusion that George is wearing a helmet...Reverse: Branch hand opposite left foot of A. The one in the date leans right. NIA very close to the date line. Both the obverse head and the positioning of NIA of BRITTANIA make it an easy attribution." It doesn't appear to me that the reverse of your 1775-dated coin matches that description. So, either my reference is incomplete as to Machins Mills coins; I am mis-interpreting your coin's features; there was another undocumented contemporary counterfeiter; or, your coin is a genuine British halfpence. Britain did not strike any halfpence after 1775 so it is certainly possible that your 1775-dated coin might be a genuine British regal halfpence. You might want to contact the Colonial Coin Collectors Club (C4) to see if a member there can help you. While I'm a member, I'm not knowledgeable enough to help you more than what I've already done. C4 | Colonial Coin Collectors Club – Est. 1993. Focused on the Study of Colonial Era Numismatics (colonialcoins.org)
When you say, "dug up," I'm assuming you were metal detecting. Real or fake, that's quite the find. Congratulations
I will post a couple of higher grade pieces. Maybe that will help you. Here is a 1774 British half penny. Here is a Machin Mills counterfeit. There are other American made counterfeits in addition to those from Machin Mills. There were the so-called "Bung Town coppers" which I think were made in southern Massachusetts. Just about anything that was round and brown had a chance of circulating in the U.S. in the late 1700s.
Sorry I can't help @Cannonball, but @johnmilton has a couple of beauties that hit the spot! Thanks for sharing.
