Need Opinions on this Rare Colonial - Mass. Unofficial Copper

Any ideas if this is a real coin or not? How would I be able to tell? I looked it up in the redbook and no are known to exist but this is the correct coin in the picture. Thanks to any potential responders!

It is a Massachussetts Unofficial Copper

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff82/MCharvet/2-8.jpg

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff82/MCharvet/1-6.jpg

 

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Look to see if you can find marks along the edge that show if it was cast or not.

 

The picture of the seated Liberty in my 2003 Redbook is pretty dark, and I can't see it well enough to tell whether there are any significant differences between your coin and that picture.

However, the pine tree side of your coin and the one pictured in the Red Book are vastly different.

1. In your picture the bottom of the branches are clearly defined by a distinct border, but in the Red Book the needles of the bottom row do not have a border
2. In your picture below the bottom row of needles there is a crossbar passing behind the trunk, with some more or less vertical marks on the right, but in the Red Book there are what appear to be random small branches, and no straight crossbar, in that area
3. In your picture the trunk is a single straight line with no markings that look like bark, but in the Red Book picture there is an irregular trunk, with what appears to be a second trunk behind it on the left
4. In your picture the area around the base of the trunk looks very different from the same area in the Red Book picture; and
5. The Red Book states that the letters "1d LM" are at the base, which are not clearly visible in the picture, and in your picture the letters "1C LM" are clear, distinct and prominent.

Bottom line, I don't know what you have, but it is not the piece pictured in the Red Book.

 

Thre are many varieties of early pieces.
however, that said, I would bet that it is a cast copy.

 

Design looks too simple - doesn't look right if it's supposed to be a "decent" currency back then.

 

GX:
Huh?
Most of the designs in the early colonies were very simple.
Look at the Pine tree shillings.
And the NE coins.

 

I've never seen sloppy lettering like that on any Pine Tree shillings, but I've never seen every variety. Those look to have been added after the piece was made by a child with a soldering gun. Even in the 1700's they had standard letter punches they used. You may want to check here: http://www.coinfacts.com/colonial_c.../pine_tree_silver/pine_tree_silver_coins.html
Guy~