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

SOSDIVING

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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?

IMG_20161222_101449811.jpg IMG_20161222_101517446_HDR.jpg IMG_20161222_102004489.jpg IMG_20161222_102014935_HDR.jpg
 

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WHADIFIND

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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!
 

WHADIFIND

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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. :dontknow:
 

rastinirv

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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

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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. :dontknow:


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

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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? ;)
 

Denny45

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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.
 

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