Hello, Coin Talk I need some information on an 1877 Morgan 50c pattern style coin. does anyone have any spec's on this coin? Any help would be greatly appreciated Thanks and have a great day Chris
It's fake. Here's a real one. https://coins.ha.com/itm/patterns/1...8-/a/454-3480.s?ic4=ListView-Thumbnail-071515
Compare yours with the real one posted above. Yours looks like a cartoon. Look at how chiseled and flat the letters are on the real one, whereas yours are all rounded and blobby. Etc. Is the coin yours, and if so how did you obtain it and for how much?
My great great grandfather worked a the Philadelphia mint and received one a few weeks after it was minted
The OP's coin looks like a business strike, not a proof. I don't know the answer but maybe it should be sent in.
I don't know the answer either, but if this is a fake, it is some mighty good counterfeit work. Certainly merits the investment to send it for authentication.
I found one good die marker on the heritage coin. It is a die scratch just to the right of the second berry on the reverse. Check yours and see if the scratch is present. Also their is a big relief difference in the obverse and reverse details. Of the die scratch is present, it might be worth sending it in. Also what is the weight and diameter of the coin?
@Pickin and Grinin Good eye. There are 2 coins on Heritage (a 3rd is a duplicate sold twice). Both have that die scratch. There are several other distinct features on the reverse. The D in United has a tiny line under it, E in America has a light line protruding at lower left, last A has a tiny bit protruding lower right - I believe these are all alignment mark remnants from positioning the letters. The I in United exhibits slight rotated doubling lower right. There's a raised lump on the leaf nearest the star next to Half on both. I could do images of these features but I don't think it's worth it. Look closely at the T in United on OP coin - it's garbage. No proof pattern from the mint is going to be such junk (in my not so humble opinion). Look at the border between denticles and rim. On the Heritage examples it's exact and sharp. On the OP coin, scalloped. Here's what I'm referring to: The two Heritage coins: https://coins.ha.com/itm/patterns/1.../1121-1872.s?ic4=GalleryView-Thumbnail-071515 https://coins.ha.com/itm/patterns/1.../1344-3650.s?ic4=GalleryView-Thumbnail-071515 If the OP feels strongly about it, they should send it in. These have sold for $40000-80000.
The hair dangling down in front of the ear appears different on both. The 1st star left of the "1" in the date looks to be pointing @ a denticle on the heritage coin and the OP coin between denticles.
I think the problem is that a bit of the community needs to be educated on why a fake or counterfeit is so. I will start with die markers. This is a significant part of the die that isn't meant to be a part of the features/devices that is raised from the original die face.
