Non copper 1838 LC?

Bartek

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Found this toasty LC few days ago. Finally got some of the dirt off the front to see the date. HOWEVER, the reverse looks totally toasted and it has a NON-Copper filling? I thought these coins were all copper!

Thanks for looking, any thoughts, insight will be greatly appreciated.
 

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Argentium

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I'm not sure what makes you think it has a non-copper filling ? Are you seeing an edge that looks funky ?

(I'm wondering if what your seeing on the back is just a corrosive build up over the underlying surface - fertilizers can do
some freaky stuff to coins )
 

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Bartek

Bartek

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I'm not sure what makes you think it has a non-copper filling ? Are you seeing an edge that looks funky ?

The back is so corroded, it shows brushed silver-colored metal.
 

Coilcrazy2

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If its indeed not copper, it could very well be a cast counterfeit. I found one similar a while ago that Iron patch ID as a cast lead counterfeit. Your's could e pewter or something similar to that. Cool find! If in nice shape, there pretty collectible.
 

nsdq

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looks like a counterfeit coin , neat find
 

treblehunter

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Rustynailsandscrews

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I found a nice Liberty Walking Half many years ago that was in nice shape with the exception that it was made of lead. :)
It was struck very nicely and would appear to be real with a reeded edge but it felt to the touch as being greasy and when dropped on a table had the lead metal Thug instead of the Silver bell ring.
Some time, back in the days when a cent or 50 cents was really worth something they would be counterfeited!
I'm just waiting to find my first counterfeit zinc Lincoln, how would I tell the difference between a real one and a counterfeit?
I guess they are all fake at this point! :laughing7:
No one in their right mind today would even bother to counterfeit coins unless it's rare or valuable but counterfeits are out there and coming from china as collectable old coins.
 

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nsdq

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I have come across two fake zincs metal is soft and you can bend with your finger
I found a nice Liberty Walking Half many years ago that was in nice shape with the exception that it was made of lead. :)
Some time, back in the days when a cent or 50 cents was really worth something they would be counterfeited!
I'm just waiting to find my first counterfeit zinc Lincoln, how would I tell the difference between a real one and a counterfeit? :laughing7:
No one in their right mind today would even bother to counterfeit coins unless it's rare or valuable but counterfeits are out there and coming from china as collectable old coins.
 

Carolina Tom

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Very cool find, whichever way it goes.

Do you remember how it rang up on the Deus? That might give some insight into it's construction.
 

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Bartek

Bartek

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Very cool find, whichever way it goes. Do you remember how it rang up on the Deus? That might give some insight into it's construction.

Not 100% but it was a high faint tone, the coin was about 8" deep. Sounded good enough to dig.

Thanks for all the comments!
 

coinman123

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Not fake, all the coppers that I find look like that, including the 1838 I found. Who would go through all that trouble to fake a penny, only worth 15 cents in today's money. If that is a fake than it's a good one, all of the details match.
 

DigIron2

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Not fake, all the coppers that I find look like that, including the 1838 I found. Who would go through all that trouble to fake a penny, only worth 15 cents in today's money. If that is a fake than it's a good one, all of the details match.
I was thinking the same thing
 

Gaspipe

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Not fake, all the coppers that I find look like that, including the 1838 I found. Who would go through all that trouble to fake a penny, only worth 15 cents in today's money. If that is a fake than it's a good one, all of the details match.

I agree likely not a fake. But remember counterfeit KG coppers are found all the time.
 

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