A very unique find, to me anyway!

[Curious The George]

My hunting partner, Buck, got permission for us to get on a private farm field in an area where CW troops passed and camped. We did make some finds that would lead one to think the troops had been there. A 1862 Indian Head, dropped three ring bullet, heel plate w/heart piercing, fired round ball, pistol bullet, 1877 Seated Liberty Quarter, 1891 Indian Head, piece of broken muzzle loading rifle trigger guard, bridle rosette, small piece of pewter spoon, fragment of a harmonica reed and a lantern wick adjuster.

In addition the usual broken pieces of farm equipment, bolts, plow points, broken cast iron pots and pot lids.

And ....... half of a lead mold to make counterfeit Seated Liberty Quarters. (This detail has now been investigated and changed to the mold being for a V-Nickle.)

The lead mold half was bent in a "V" shape when struck by a plow. I straighten it out flat again by gingerly squeezing in a wood workers vise.

I have played around with the image in of the mold cavity to enhance the design. The photo of just the cavity it's self has been reversed. This makes the image look the same way the coin that was used to make it instead of backwards as it looks in actuality.

Unfortunately a plow rode across the cavity wiping out the last two digits of the date. You can see the "18" clearly and that's it. Three feet from the mold I found a fairly nice 1877 Seated Liberty Quarter Dollar and I just wonder if this coin is the one used to make the mold.

 

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[Bank Runner]

 

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[Kenosha Kid]

I'm having trouble making out what you are describing but I'll take your word for it regarding the details.

You mention the "V" or Liberty Nickel. Don't forget that for that issue in the first year the word Cents was not on the reverse for part of the run. Many 1883 "V" Nickels were plated and passed as $5 Gold pieces. Your mold could actually be part of a process for making counterfeit $5 gold pieces. Pretty neat!

Good point. Why would you counterfeit a nickel to be just a nickle and not have another reason to do so? If the penalty for Grand Theft is the same for stealing a Yugo, as it is a Ferrari, why steal the Yugo?

http://www.onlineauction.com/index.php?page=auction:view_item&auction_id=1256894

Yeah, we can tell the difference nowaday; however, if you'd heard of, but never saw a $5.00 gold piece back then ... it could have been easy to have been had.

Well, whatever coin the mold was for ... great find !

 

[riverrunner814]

That mold looks like a bullet grazed it. Nice finds!!!!

 

[timekiller]

Very Neat Find Mack,
And Congrat's on the the Banner.
Hope your beach hunt goes as well.
Take Care,
Pete,

 

[darkwing_66]

man thats so cool

 

[Woodland Detectors]

Amazing find!

Congratulations!!!!!

 

[cntrydncr1]

congrats on the great find! I love the shoe plate too! congrats on making banner also

 

[Elliott Ness]

What a find. Congrats on making the Banner, and can't wait to see more.

 

[KOOTNEY KID]

Spectacular little site you came across,congrats!

 

[Ammo Dog]

awesome find

 

[Curious The George]

I am honored by having found something worthy of the Banner.

I was kind of wondering why someone would go to all that trouble for a nickle.

Hadn't heard the stuff about plated V nickels being passed as gold $5. That makes a little more sense about why someone would take the time to make a mold.

I just hope the other half is lurking in that field. Going back next week and Buck is bringing his big coil to see if we can get some more depth in the area.

 

[saftgeek]

Congrats on the banner!!! You had a great day. I am curious about how they would have used a lead mould? Wouldn't molten silver melt or quickly deteriorate the detail? I'm not in any way doubting your find... I'm just a wondering?

Thanks for sharing with us... It's great to see some new finds on the banner.
Saftgeek

 

[West Jersey Detecting]

I'm having trouble making out what you are describing but I'll take your word for it regarding the details.

You mention the "V" or Liberty Nickel. Don't forget that for that issue in the first year the word Cents was not on the reverse for part of the run. Many 1883 "V" Nickels were plated and passed as $5 Gold pieces. Your mold could actually be part of a process for making counterfeit $5 gold pieces. Pretty neat!

Good point. Why would you counterfeit a nickel to be just a nickle and not have another reason to do so? If the penalty for Grand Theft is the same for stealing a Yugo, as it is a Ferrari, why steal the Yugo?

http://www.onlineauction.com/index.php?page=auction:view_item&auction_id=1256894

Yeah, we can tell the difference nowaday; however, if you'd heard of, but never saw a $5.00 gold piece back then ... it could have been easy to have been had.

Well, whatever coin the mold was for ... great find !

It is very possible that it was used for nickels, and not for the $5 gold plated 5 cent piece. Counterfeiting nickels and five cent pieces was fairly common. The nickel would have been easier to pass on as real. Trying to pass a dime or larger denomonation coin would be more likely to be scrutinized. Silver would have been more likely to get noticed.

A simple search of the NY times archives turns up numerous examples from the 1870s and 1880s and of course the famous FL Henning case of 1955 :

 

[Mr Tuff]

awesome relic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MR TUFF

 

[RFrady]

Wow, Great variety of finds. Awesome mold.

 

[DigginThePast]

Neil in West Jersey - Great articles.

How great would it be to turn up a counterfeit piece at that site, one that would match this mold? I'd pound it to try anyway.

 

[Red James Cash]

nice find

You mention the "V" or Liberty Nickel. Don't forget that for that issue in the first year the word Cents was not on the reverse for part of the run. Many 1883 "V" Nickels were plated and passed as $5 Gold pieces. Your mold could actually be part of a process for making counterfeit $5 gold pieces. Pretty neat!

The counterfeiters used the V nickle because the coin didnt have the word CENTS on it and the gold piece looked the same.

 

[mainer]

That is one great find. Congrats on making the banner you certainly deserve it,

 

[steelheadwill]

I'm having trouble making out what you are describing but I'll take your word for it regarding the details.

You mention the "V" or Liberty Nickel. Don't forget that for that issue in the first year the word Cents was not on the reverse for part of the run. Many 1883 "V" Nickels were plated and passed as $5 Gold pieces. Your mold could actually be part of a process for making counterfeit $5 gold pieces. Pretty neat!

Congrats On your unique Find & Banner
Agreed here, this would allow you to make your coins just the right weight.
and a much better return than nickels
love finding Counterfeit coins!
Am amazed at the faith of some cashiers in 'the Pen'
I broke a Cnote the other day, cashier didn't even look at the bill, just swiped it with the pen & boxed it!

 

[Palmetto]

Congrats on the Banner. What a fascinating peice of history.