Capt bust half dollar

[Mduece]

Puns this capt bust half dollar today. Found a civil war era general service button same location earlier in the week. Think the coin is 1810 but as of yet not able to bd sure but definitely a half bust. Couldn't be more excited

 

[Davers]

Likely a "German Silver " Counterfeit " IMO

 

[Davers]

OP.
Let us / me know what you find out. PLEASE.
Def, a cool find, maybe more interesting that an authentic piece.
Def, rarer.
Davers

 

[Davers]

Although I could be wrong, I believe that the coin is probably a genuine Silver Capped Bust Half Dollar minted sometime between 1807 and 1836 that just looks as if it is Copper. Remember, the Silver Half Dollar coins were 90% Silver and 10% Copper. Extreme heat from a fire or being very close to a fire can cause the Copper to rise to the surface of Silver coins. Also, the color could have been caused by environmental contaminants in the soil where the coin has been for the past say 175 to 200 years. Two things will show whether the coin is Silver or if it is Copper and that is the weight and the ring test. A normal Capped Bust Half Dollar minted from 1807 to 1836 should weigh 13.48 grams, while a normal Classic Head Large Cent minted from 1808 to 1814 should weigh 10.89 grams. Depending upong how much corrosion and encrustation is on the coin but considering there is wear on it, if it is Silver or Copper, it should not weight too significantly far from either weight. While the corrosion and encrustation on the coin may somewhat deaden the sound tone when the coin is dropped on a hard surface such as a Coffee table or Counter Top, I believe that this test and the sound tone that comes from the coin, will likely be the tell tell sign of whether it is Silver or Copper.


Frank

This comment makes me want to buy a Poor or worn smooth Capped Bust type Coin & put it in the hot coals of a fire
until it cools down & see what becomes of the coin.
Could it get too hot and melt the coin Hmmmmm.

 

[Mduece]

Thank you all for the info on my find. It's definitely not silver. When I found it could tell it was a copper. Thought prob a large cent or half cent so did a lot of looking at pictures of them trying to find one w/ same markings I could make out on mine w/ no luck. Finally found pic of capped bust and there was no doubt but I wasn't aware they were only made of silver. I'm actually just as happy w/ the counterfeit. I'm not in it for valuable more just old and interesting which this certainly is. Correct me if I'm wrong but even though it's counterfeit it's still likely that time period right?

 

[shawninNY]

Absolutely ,Contemporary Counterfeit

 

[testing123]

that's cool as a counterfeit coin!

 

[SCDigginWithAK]

Agreed. I'm jealous because a lot of my digging buddy's have dug counterfeit reales. Cool to think you dug the work of a con man from over 200 years ago!

 

[etex]

The only silver dollar I have found (1880) came out of the ground as green as a gourd. Was about 7 inches down in nasty iron and ashes.

 

[gsxraddict]

This comment makes me want to buy a Poor or worn smooth Capped Bust type Coin & put it in the hot coals of a fire
until it cools down & see what becomes of the coin.
Could it get too hot and melt the coin Hmmmmm.

I've dug burnt silver coins, it'll never look pure copper like this coin, you'd also see disfigurement.

I think there is a 0% chance it's genuine.

 

[bountyhuntergirl86]

Post a pic of it all cleaned up... Please

 

[Mduece]

Not sure I'm going to do any more to it bountyhuntergirl. I'm afraid to make it worse

 

[wetrock]

It's not a large cent, as E Pluribus Unum was never used on large cents. That wording wasn't used on a cent until the wheat cent.

 

[romeo-1]

Not sure I'm going to do any more to it bountyhuntergirl. I'm afraid to make it worse

Yes, leave it as is...that's as good as it will get. That's a very cool counterfeit!!

 

[bountyhuntergirl86]

yes its a awesome find