VERY large 1863 USA two cent piece. Is it bullion? Commemorative token?

Discussion in 'What's it Worth' started by sethsheldon, Nov 20, 2011.

  1. sethsheldon

    sethsheldon New Member

    Hi, all. I recently found a pretty unusual US coin (or perhaps not a coin at all, but a token or bullion) in a lot of foreign coins that I purchased. Here are the details:


    Country: USA
    Year: 1863
    Grade: Good to Very Good
    Denomination: 2 cents
    Phrase: "In God We Trust"
    Width: ~38 cm
    Weight: probably close to an ounce! (i.e., ~28.3 grams)


    It's a BIG coin. Strangely big, and certainly larger than an actual 2 cent piece. To give you the only reference I've found (mine is slightly more worn), see "1863 2C Two Cents, Judd-316, Pollock-381, R.6," which is the fifth pattern down on the following page:


    http://coinauctionshelp.com/Pattern_Guides/twocentshield.html


    I read that someone had a similarly large 2 cent "coin" but dated 1865. One of the answers suggested that it was not an actual pattern, since patterns are the same size as regular coins. They also said that it could be a silver bullion coin that would have been produced by a private mint during the mid 1900's. It is not magnetic, and the surface coating is a sort of dirty copper - - even blackish on each side. In some places, the silver-colored metal beneath is slightly visible. My understanding is that US 2 cent coins did not go into production until 1964, and that all coins predating that are either patterns or "novodels" (i.e., backdated fantasy coins).


    What on earth is this coin? Have you ever heard of or seen a similar one? A penny is shown in the pictures for comparison. Thanks!


    Seth

    DSCF4375.jpg DSCF4374.jpg
     
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  3. jcakcoin

    jcakcoin New Member

    It is a real coin, made in 1863

    I believe that the size was in relation with a large cent, which is larger than a normal Lincoln cent
     
  4. Really? The coin pictured is a good 39 mm, but the actual 2 cent piece is a mere 23 mm across. Also, it wasn't minted until 1863. It could possibly be a pattern piece, but I'm guessing that it's a replica, especially judging from the details.
     
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