Educational Thread: 1877 Indian Head Cent

Just got this in the mail along with a set I bought. Seller disclosed that it was a fake. I thought with all the new members frequenting this site asking whether their coins were real or fake, it would be nice to share this one. Please detail for everyone why you think it's a fake. For educational purposes.

I'll start: Weight SHOULD be 3.11 grams. This one weighs 2.75 grams.

 

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Casting bubbles?

 

Very good. The one that stands out the most is on the first A of AMERICA.

 

Besides the overall cast look, there is no weakness in the "N" in ONE.

 

Right. In the normal minting process, the letter N was struck very shallow, particularly on the bottom right portion.

 

Good thread, the bottom feather in the War Bonnet should be pointing directly at the C in AMERICA also.It's pointing between the C and the A ...

 

Great Thread

 

Yes. It should be a Type 1 but it's a Type 2. Type 2 is 1886 Type 2 thru end of series I believe.

 

Appears grainy/ porous. Is that the same thing as casting bubbles?
I like the artificial aging technique. Some scratches some dents, let it ride around in the clothes dryer for 20 minutes.

 

Correct on both fronts. And artificially circulated...

 

NOT OR BUBBLE IN HEADRESS!

 

What?

 

I think he meant "knot." As in, there's a knot or a bubble in the headress. (Which there is).

 

Ah. Thanks ;-)

 

How prooflike do the rims look? My (struck) Chinese fake 1877 cent has very sharp rims. Your coin reminds me of mine, albeit artificially weathered.

 

Except on proofs

I also notice how all of the devices have very soft edges. Genuine coins generally have very sharp edges on the devices.

 

old49er's point is the only thing you need to know to tell this coin is a counterfeit. All the other stuff is interesting but somewhat moot.

 

The Ns on the reverse are all wrong, they're way too strong, that cinches it.