1830 half dollar

[donj]

Did you put a magnet to it?

 

[metaldetecta]

I can not make it out in the picture of the edge of the coin, is the edge lettered?

No, it isn't.

 

[metaldetecta]

Did you put a magnet to it?

Yes, it didn't attract.

 

[l.cutler]

A genuine coin would have a lettered edge.

 

[dejapooh]

Place the coin on a well lit, flat surface. A table would work well. Ideal would be to put the coin on a Black Cloth. Hold the camera about 2 or 3 feet above the coin (phone camera?). Zoom in on the coin. Hold your breath and secure your camera so it is as still as possible. Make sure there are no shadows on the coin.

I am sitting about 75% fake, 25% real. That star at the top near the head looks pretty wonky, The surfaces are not right. There is not enough detail in the pictures because of a lack of focus to tell. Smooth edges are wrong, but not 100% wrong. It was not uncommon to file the edges to get a bit of extra silver. Do that to a few hundred coins and you make $1 or $2 (not insignificant). Look for file marks on the edge of the coin.

 

[Nortonics]

Check it's weight and compare against a known genuine coin.

 

[metaldetecta]

Check it's weight and compare against a known genuine coin.

My scale is off unfortunately. I weighed a 100 g block and it came up a bit less than 100.

 

[metaldetecta]

Place the coin on a well lit, flat surface. A table would work well. Ideal would be to put the coin on a Black Cloth. Hold the camera about 2 or 3 feet above the coin (phone camera?). Zoom in on the coin. Hold your breath and secure your camera so it is as still as possible. Make sure there are no shadows on the coin.

I am sitting about 75% fake, 25% real. That star at the top near the head looks pretty wonky, The surfaces are not right. There is not enough detail in the pictures because of a lack of focus to tell. Smooth edges are wrong, but not 100% wrong. It was not uncommon to file the edges to get a bit of extra silver. Do that to a few hundred coins and you make $1 or $2 (not insignificant). Look for file marks on the edge of the coin.

I will try to get some better pictures in a bit, I need to charge my camera.

 

[metaldetecta]

My question is why would someone fake a coin that isn't rare or too valuable?

 

[l.cutler]

Who knows, it could have even been a contemporary counterfeit made for circulation in the 19th century.

 

[jerseyben]

My question is why would someone fake a coin that isn't rare or too valuable?

It is valuable enough. However, as someone else stated, I suspect it is a contemporary counterfeit. Look up Contemporary Counterfeit Capped Bust Half Collectors Club

 

[HenryWaltonJonesJr]

It does look like a very old copy with the finish/silver plate coming off. My gut only tells me that from suspected silver finds I've pulled from the ground. It reminds me of that.

 

[metaldetecta]

Sorry it took so long, here are better pictures.

 

[cache finder]

Looks like writing on the side, just faint. Nice find if its real. Clean it up by leaving it in your pocket with other junk silver coins, after a month it should look good as new.

 

[metaldetecta]

Looks like writing on the side, just faint. Nice find if its real. Clean it up by leaving it in your pocket with other junk silver coins, after a month it should look good as new.

Thanks cache finder!

 

[dejapooh]

Looks like writing on the side, just faint. Nice find if its real. Clean it up by leaving it in your pocket with other junk silver coins, after a month it should look good as new.

Please stop suggesting people ruin their coins. May as well go with Steel wool and Lemon Juice. Geez.

 

[enamel7]

I agree. What you're telling them to do is subject the coin to more wear, thus lowering its value.

 

[captain flintlock]

It looks to me to be real but maybe a metal detecting find. I know silver can look as good as the day it was dropped but in harsh conditions or a field loaded with fertilizer over many years, silver can do some funky things. I great find nonetheless!!

 

[metaldetecta]

It looks to me to be real but maybe a metal detecting find. I know silver can look as good as the day it was dropped but in harsh conditions or a field loaded with fertilizer over many years, silver can do some funky things. I great find nonetheless!!

Thnk you! I was thinking it looked dug too.