1849 Half Eagle Reeded Edge: Fake, replica, or what?

[UncleVinnys]

Ok, I give up! What is it?

It's obviously a Norris, Gregg & Norris 1849 Half Eagle Reeded Edge, which is generally valuable,
but I doubt this is gold.

Odd things:
In the center near the date there appears a lead or nickel-colored metal, and scratches
above the date reveal that beneath the coating this gray metal dominates.

Scratches just below the date.

Wear on the eagle again shows gray metal breaking through.
Is this a fake, a replica, or possibly a coated coin?
The bright gold-color looks like brass or copper.
Any ideas?

[l.cutler]

It is definitely a fake, plated to make it look like gold.

[CRUSADER]

Looks like a coin weight to weigh the real coin. But I know little/nothing about US Coin Weights (only UK), so its a best guess, someone should chime in.

[creskol]

Send your photos to Mike Locke : lockem@calgoldcoin.com
If anybody can shed the light on it, it would be him.

[nova treasure]

it's definetly a fake and probably made right before the United States Hobby Protection Act of 1973 that mandated using the word "copy" or "replica" on all made fakes.

authentic half eagles weighs 8.359 grams and contains .24187 of a troy ounce of gold. the fakes would probably be half that.

Cool conversation piece to add to a collection.

Bill

[creskol]

it's definetly a fake and probably made right before the United States Hobby Protection Act of 1973 that mandated using the word "copy" or "replica" on all made fakes.

authentic half eagles weighs 8.359 grams and contains .24187 of a troy ounce of gold. the fakes would probably be half that.

Cool conversation piece to add to a collection.

Bill

Here is what Mike had to say about a couple other "coins" of similar nature: