Cast counterfeit 1746 King George II Half Pence

[Donnie B from VA]

Thanks for looking. I found this cast counterfeit King George II Half Pence on Sunday. I was detecting an old colonial cellar hole with three friends and, interestingly, three coppers were found with two of them being counterfeit. We hit several sites and hiked for many miles only to find the best site at the end of the day. That was ok because we munched on Danny's home made beef jerky to fortify ourselves for the hike.

This is my very first cast counterfeit colonial copper. It appears as if the counterfeiter did not align the mold correctly as you can see a "rim" of poured metal on the reverse in the date area. I found it with my new AT Max but checked it on the MXT Pro and it rang up low (50). I have done quite a bit of reading since finding the coin and, apparently, cast colonial counterfeits are much rarer in relation to the struck counterfeits.

 

[Whyme]

Congrats! Man I would love to find a coin like that, real or counterfeit!

 

[Lanny in AB]

Unique indeed!

Nicely done, and all the best,

Lanny

 

[Donnie B from VA]

Paper currency also donnie.

Thanks. I did not know that as I don't study paper money.

 

[Red James Cash]

Neither do i.I know is if somebody counterfeiters paper shilling notes and gets caught kiss your butt goodbye.If I remember right it said right on the shilling note "to counterfeit is death".

 

[CRUSADER]

The death penalty was reserved for counterfeiting silver and gold coins. I believe the penalty for counterfeiting copper coins was two years in prison and, perhaps, getting your ears cropped, if I am correct.



According to the book, Forgotten Coins of the North American Colonies, cast counterfeits are extremely rare as casting was "entirely unsuitable for mass manufacture;" however, you raise a very intriguing point regarding the George II coins in that most counterfeits were probably cast. Struck counterfeit KG II's may be rarer than cast.

Yeah, I didn't say cast one's were not rare because they are, but I'm pretty sure Geo II had less struck one's. I just 'think' it became more prevalent in Geo III's period to counterfeit.

 

[Donnie B from VA]

Yeah, I didn't say cast one's were not rare because they are, but I'm pretty sure Geo II had less struck one's. I just 'think' it became more prevalent in Geo III's period to counterfeit.

I will have to find it but I did read somewhere that striking counterfeits became the preferred method of counterfeiting in the mid 1750's.

 

[cellerfeller]

Apparently it paid very well which is why the counterfeits usually weigh less that the regal coppers. They also used other base metals so a little copper would go a long way. Some were struck and some cast in sand.