I got this gold coin from eBay this month. It is an 1857 3-Dollar gold coin in a nice condition. Its size and weight is correct. But the I of the word UNITED in the obverse legend looks really like 1 to me. And the second S of the STATES is kind of shorter. I’m quite new to this domination. So I’d like to ask your opinions on its authenticity. Thank you!
I got this gold coin from eBay this month. It is an 1857 3-Dollar gold coin in a nice condition. Its size and weight is correct. But the I of the word UNITED in the obverse legend looks really like 1 to me. And the second S of the STATES is kind of shorter. I’m quite new to this domination. So I’d like to ask your opinions on its authenticity. Thank you!
Thank you for your reply! I have posted it in the US coins section. But I cannot delete this one here. And BTW, US coins are also parts of World coins to me!
The obverse looks more harshly cleaned than the reverse to me; overall the coin seems to have been lightly cleaned -- there's still quite a bit of cartwheel luster to the coin. Either that, or the coin has really strong polish lines. Beautiful coin either way!
At first glance it is cleaned with Hairlines all over it IMO. At second glance I'd say not real. I get this from the spike in the rim on the reverse at 10:30. But it's hard to tell from the pictures.
I agree with Duke K. It looks fake to me. Possibly one of those counterfeits that came out of Lebanon during the late '50s and '60s.
Beautiful coin but 1) looks like someone scoured the heck out of it - all the parallel polish lines on both sides and 2) that 1 does look fishy - go to Google images and I see a 1 dollar that looks similar, but no 3 dollar coins. Take it to a reputable dealer!
I just had a look in Bill Fivaz' United States Gold Counterfeit Detection Guide. This coin looks like a dead match for the counterfeit 1857 shown there (page 98). It calls out the broken serif on I in UNITED and AMERICA, and depressions on the center of the lowest broad leaf on the left and between the leaves and rim at 2:00 on the reverse. It also calls out a number of tool marks and hairlines, but those are masked by the scrubbing on this coin. Sorry for the bad news...
Thank you very much! I'll contatc the seller and hope he agrees the refund. And I'll try to get one copy of the book you mentioned. Really thanks for the information, you guys!
Assur, In case you don't know the $3 is one of the more heavily counterfeited US coins. If you are not very adept at counterfeit detection perhaps you should only buy a $3 slabbed by PCGS or NGC or ANACS.
Yes, that's what I am thinking now. Many thanks for your suggestions! But before that I have one more $3 coin for identification. It's a 1878. Could you please have a look at it? I'll open a new thread later.
Please have a look at my another $3 coin, my friends! http://www.cointalk.com/t209945/#post1489136 Thank you very much for your replies!
