Current listing; who here would make a bid on this one... https://www.ebay.com/itm/2850197068...Uk-OVlGEZSRzt1esF-5LdSmaIHk6jKygUTpHNr1N7Ztok
I wouldn't bid on it. Not because I know anything about the coin, but because I only buy coins in reputable slabs. That way I don't have to develop the expertise to spot fakes
I'll play (says the rank amateur who knows nothing about the series)... In the few sources I just looked at, I don't see any mention of a die break on the reverse around the denomination. Also, the space between the D and S in "United States" is weakly struck on genuine specimens. Am I in the ball park? Even close?
Decent mid-level counterfeit based on the 1804 C-6 half cent. One of my most popular Coin Week articles: https://coinweek.com/counterfeits/struck-counterfeit-coins-a-family-of-struck-fake-half-cents/
Poking around the internet for clues, I read part II of your article and told myself to look up part I (but didn't). What I get for being lazy. Good stuff, as always.
It still has the fake "Chinese copper toning" on it, but the experts tell me I'm full of it. "Minor scratch on obverse." If only that were only problem with it. Here is a certified one I bought over 30 years ago. It is the scarce early die state. NGC graded it AU-55.
Are you referring to the resemblance to a chocolate necco wafer? Honest question, I'm really trying to learn to spot these things.
I am referring to the fake dusty brown and the flakey gray. I have never seen those colors on an original surface early copper coin. They don't even match up with what the coin doctors do to cleaned copper coins, which often more convincing.
It's decent to the mid-level or novice collector who doesn't know any better but it is still just your typical Chinese-made replica. I had similar results when I bought replicas in uncirculated condition in c. 2007. What I would do is apply copper darkener (it came as a green paste) and experiment with various grits in a rock tumbler. The results would be a similar color and texture to what appears in the first post.
Listing was removed... My responses from the seller to my messages: "I honestly don't think so I bought this coin from a seller with a lot of experience in these coins and my sales come with a refund for any reason and how sure are you to tell me that? thanks Mario". And then "hi thank you very much for the information I will try to get my money back but I think it will be very difficult but the worst thing was that I bought 5 of these coins from different years for 250 dollars this person sells these coins in Mercari and right now he has 3 for sale I have my claim and I have to wait to see what happens Thanks again Mario". Found the bad seller: https://www.mercari.com/u/397396597/?tracking_ref_id=m35030155005
Looked at the seller's stuff; I bet the "vintage Schleich" smurf figurine is fake, too, although that's pretty far outside my wheelhouse.
Hmmm, "retired grandpa selling stuff for fun" is selling multiple early 19th century half cents for $49 each and no red flags went up? No disrespect, we can all be "had" by a good enough con man but if it seems too good to be true,...
I've got an 1809 Half Cent that I got from my father. I don't know how long he had it. He passed in 1996. I saw in the article that the counterfeit Half Cents range from 1800-1808. I don't have the means to take a picture right now.
