1902 Liberty Head, V Nickel - COUNTERFEIT, everything reads backwards???

[SOSDIVING]

This is ODD, went out today on Main Street in Rolesville, NC and found this in a farm field. I thought I had found a V Nickel, but upon inspection everything reads backwards including the date. It has 13 stars on face, but they are all impressed versus raised. The bust faces right instead of left, and every feature is impressed versus raised. The backwards date seems to read 1902. The coin weighs in at 6.5 grams or 0.220 oz. It also appears to have lead in the coin, some parts look like lead oxide, but the rest looks like nickel plate. Any thoughts or ideas on this strange one?

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Cry Of The Eagle: History And Legends Of The Cherokee Indians And Their Buried Treasure - Grab it through Amazon!

[trapperart]

No help here, a real one weighs 5 grams. Congrats on an unusual find

 

[Iron Patch]

I would guess instead of casting a counterfeit coin someone had the bright idea to try and make one by making an impression on each side of a blank disk.

 

[Msbeepbeep]

That is certainly interesting! Nice find congrats!
Certainly hope it turns out to be valuable for ya.

 

[WHADIFIND]

Oh sure! I know this! It's that variation on a "wooden nickel" . Ya see, they heat up a blob of lead, then they take a real nickel and press it into the softened lead, then they cool it off and nickel plate it. Then...they're ready to pass it off at their local tavern where they already know the barkeep is dyslexic! And I haven't a clue of what I'm talkin' about! LOL

Dyslexics of the world!! UNTIE!

 

[Seek Ye First]

Maybe it was a die or mold used to make counterfeit coins??

 

[kingskid1611]

It is a plug nickel. You know the saying "I wouldn't give you a plug nickel for that" Thar ya go.

 

[watercolor]

That's so cool!
Two years ago I found a lead1892 Indianhead penny with reversed features. Must have been kinds messing around with their dads hammer or vise.

 

[Mudflap]

Some gold pieces are incised and have the details stamped in.

 

[dirtdigginfool]

Cool find! Might actually be more interesting than the real thing...definitely a rarity, congrats, ddf.

 

[WHADIFIND]

I just had a thought....(and yes, it did hurt). I can't see the coin too well in these pics but, can you tell is the word "CENTS" is on the reverse of the coin?

There was a scam involving "V" nickels when they first came out. The word "CENTS" was not on the coin and some enterprising crooks used to gold plate them and pass them off as 5 dollar gold coins.

 

[A2coins]

Great display case keeper!!!!!!

 

[WHADIFIND]

Here's the one I meant:



See? no "CENTS" .

 

[rastinirv]

Oh sure! I know this! It's that variation on a "wooden nickel" . Ya see, they heat up a blob of lead, then they take a real nickel and press it into the softened lead, then they cool it off and nickel plate it. Then...they're ready to pass it off at their local tavern where they already know the barkeep is dyslexic! And I haven't a clue of what I'm talkin' about! LOL

Dyslexics of the world!! UNTIE!

That reminds me, WHADIFIND. the local Dyslexic Theater Company is doing a gangbusters production of "Annie Get Your Nug".

 

[ScubaDetector]

I just had a thought....(and yes, it did hurt). I can't see the coin too well in these pics but, can you tell is the word "CENTS" is on the reverse of the coin?

There was a scam involving "V" nickels when they first came out. The word "CENTS" was not on the coin and some enterprising crooks used to gold plate them and pass them off as 5 dollar gold coins.

You are right. The very first year they came out 1883 the word cents was omitted. Some were plated and passed as 5.00 in gold. However the mint rectified that error and cents was added to every year after that.

MY educated guess is it was made to fool a vending machine. I have a lead buffalo nickel I found underwater and I think since no vending machines were electronic or very sophisticated, any coin approximately the same size as the coin needed would work.

 

[WHADIFIND]

You are right. The very first year they came out 1883 the word cents was omitted. Some were plated and passed as 5.00 in gold. However the mint rectified that error and cents was added to every year after that.

MY educated guess is it was made to fool a vending machine. I have a lead buffalo nickel I found underwater and I think since no vending machines were electronic or very sophisticated, any coin approximately the same size as the coin needed would work.

Welp, of course, I can't rely on any edumacashunals but, If I were to try and make a 5 dollar fake to pass off, I might be tempted to make the front a different date then the 1883. Especially, if I were making them after the first ones from 1883 were discovered. If yaknowaddamean, Vern?

 

[l.cutler]

Someone tried to make a lead "coin" by pressing a lead disc between two nickels. Did it myself many times as a kid.

 

[hunting deer]

Looks like a good job though!

 

[SOSDIVING]

The BACK of the coin DOES have "CENTS" on it, of course backwards!!!

 

[Denny45]

Here’s mine. It’s a die/stamp.
I only have the reverse side. Made of steel. Cut off the rod. Most likely from the courthouse fire of 1888.