1806 Draped Bust Quarter...Counterfeit????

[grasshopper]

Found this coin today at an 1850's home (supposedly there was an older homesite on the property).

First thought when I pulled it out was a token, it was really gross and couldn't see any details.

Cleaned it a bit more and realized it was a US 1806 Draped Bust quarter. Scratched like no coin I've seen before.

I was skeptical...

First, the dirt wasn't cleaning off nicely like most silver coins. Secondly, I just weighed it after getting home and the scale says 5.5 grams. Online says it should be 6.74 grams.

Edit: forgot to mention it rings up a 60 on the deus, much lower than I'd expect for a silver quarter


Can any experts help me out here? If anything, seems like it might be an old counterfeit.....

(the pics are sideways on the preview but I noticed if you expand them they show right side up. Not sure why this is an issue..)

 

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[grasshopper]

Actually it looks like a contemporary counterfeit, and a killer find that shouldn’t be dismissed.
Certainly a great early counterfeit that was well made. A lot of counterfeits of that era was silver plated or silver washed copper, but yours looks more like a billon material. I’m not entirely convinced either - there’s always an off-chance it could be very worn, although 1-1/4 grams is quite substantial. What’s catching my eye is the sharpness of the details. I wish I could zoom in on your pictures but my phone isn’t allowing me.

And sometimes crust does attach to old silver. A friend of mine found an encrusted 8 reales in the woods once that looked counterfeit due to the impossible brown crust on it. After much cleaning it was a 1750’s 8 reales Spanish coin.

And as far a vdi - it’s not always reliable, even on a Deus. Did you scan it again out of the hole to make sure it didn’t ring higher? There always a chance it was on edge.

Thanks for your opinion!

Just double checked, it rings up a solid repeatable 61 on my machine.

I attached a few zoomed in close ups.

I also just dropped a silver Washington on the table and then dropped this coin and mine sounds like it's made out of wood [emoji23][emoji23]

It also feels slightly malleable in my fingers...

 

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[gordonquixote]

You sure it's not a real one that survived a fire?

 

[Sooper Dave]

So cool! Congrats

 

[Scrappy]

Thanks for your opinion!

Just double checked, it rings up a solid repeatable 61 on my machine.

I attached a few zoomed in close ups. View attachment 1621738 View attachment 1621739

I also just dropped a silver Washington on the table and then dropped this coin and mine sounds like it's made out of wood [emoji23][emoji23]

It also feels slightly malleable in my fingers...

Yeah, I was able to view those photos just fine. Contemporary counterfeit that seems to have survived well. Perhaps some lead alloy. Very nice

 

[Argentium]

Looking at the area around the hole , from the pics it appears that there is a raised rim around the hole on both sides - this suggests wear over a period of time ( some years ) . As a metal fabricator ,I know you may get a raised area around a hole that you have punched or driven through - on the underside only ! - so this "fake " coin was worn ( thought of as genuine ?) for a good while apparently . Other ideas , theories please !

 

[grasshopper]

Looking at the area around the hole , from the pics it appears that there is a raised rim around the hole on both sides - this suggests wear over a period of time ( some years ) . As a metal fabricator ,I know you may get a raised area around a hole that you have punched or driven through - on the underside only ! - so this "fake " coin was worn ( thought of as genuine ?) for a good while apparently . Other ideas , theories please !

Great point. Never even noticed that until you mentioned...

 

[washingtonian]

Really interesting find. Thanks for sharing!

 

[colonialct]

Very nice find and probably very rare as well. Congrats.

 

[Clad2Silver]

I'd say fake...……...

 

[curbdiggercarl57]

Hey, the next best thing to finding a US 1806 Draped Bust quarter, is finding a counterfeit US 1806 Draped Bust Quarter.
I managed to dig a counterfeit Barber half years ago, and it's displayed to show off to people.
Kudos!
Carl

 

[d3t3ctr0n]

Well it was drilled which is common practice back then. That may also account for the lower weight. Take it to a coin dealer and have them test the silver content.

 

[chiloquin]

Contemporary Counterfeit most likely. Excellent recovery.

 

[BuckleBoy]

Almost certainly a pewter counterfeit and it’s a fantastic find! Probably the earliest “silver” US counterfeit I’ve seen posted.