Lead or tin counterfeit

Rocksforbrainz

Tenderfoot
Jun 13, 2010
8
0
Atalanta Georgia
I recently found a half dollar in some spare change. At first glance ithought it might be silver because its composition was completely one metal, but the year was 1976. The metal it is made of is very soft and easy to scratch, and it sounds different than a normal half dollar of the same year when dropped. The detail on the back looks washed out and it appears that it might have been made in a mold. Has anyone heard of counterfeit half dollars like this?
 

Diver_Down

Silver Member
Dec 13, 2008
4,373
2,000
St. Augustine, FL
Sounds like a magician's coin. Look close at the rim on reverse. You will see a seam where the two halves are joined. My experience when finding these is that the "strike/mold" is mushy and not sharp. If it is a magician coin, you can place it in a thick-sided jar (mason jar) and shake vigourously. The two halves will come apart. Be warned that if the glass isn't thick enough, it will break.
 

Dknight34

Greenie
Jan 4, 2008
18
0
San Diego
Detector(s) used
Tesoro LST & SS
could be magician coin, but most magician coins are made from the real deal. The ones that are not are shim coins that are made from steel so that they can be used with magnets, or split coins (real) with a steel core. Some (larger 1/2's and dollar) will actually have a very thin neodymium magnet inserted between the two halves.
 

Top Member Reactions

Users who are viewing this thread

Top