continental counterfeit

[GTI2000]

Im only posting this coin after reading about the 1876 trade dollar I found this coin on an old homestead back in 1999 in eastern oregon i have taken this coin to 5 coin dealers all agreed the coin is pewter and they all said it was fake but the lowest offer made on the coin was $3200. 1 of the dealers did walk me to the car with $5000. in hand did not want me to leave.. i have never showed the coin again till now. Is it just a good collectable counterfeit or??.

 

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[Montana Jim]

Um... good thing you kept it!!!

Quote from site I added below:

"Significant examples:
In the February 2005 issue of NUMISMATIST (page 63), William Anton offered a 1776 Brass Continental Dollar for $375,000.00, describing it as follows: "Breathtaking Gem Uncirculated. Finest known."

Now... your's is NOT an example of the finest known, but these are going for way WAY more than 5,000.

Read this site: http://www.coinfacts.com/colonial_coins/continental_dollars/1776_continental_dollar.htm


Good luck, keep it locked up... until you know for sure (which frankly it sounds like you know...)

 

[teverly]

Nice coin!!
May be worth it to try and have certified.IF A DEALER IS OFFERING THAT MUCH IT HAS TO BE WORTH SOMETHING!!!!!!!!

 

[secondcup]

I would have it certified by one of the "big three" coin grading companies. THink about it, why would a dealer offer $5k for fake coin. They know something you don't...

 

[l.cutler]

It has the appearance of being cast, genuine ones were all struck. Perhaps this could be the result of being buried, but it really looks cast. What does the edge look like?

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

But don't you have to go through a dealer (or two) to send a coin for grading?

 

[Montana Jim]

It's either real...

Or a 5000.00 fake

Either way... holy crap!

Maybe a "Best Find" even though you've had it for a while...

 

[Angelo]

Nice going Montana Jim! (you probably will not hear that too often . I guess I'm just in a complimenting mood today.

Tony

 

[downindixie]

This site tells you how to get coin certified.



http://www.pcgs.com/prices/

 

[bakergeol]

I agree with the consensus. If you think you have the real Mc Coy have it certified. There have been an incredible number of reproductions made so certification is necessary. Here is a reproduction on E-Bay

http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-CONTINE...yZ139967QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Condition dictates that you found this coin above ground?

Good Luck on the value
George

 

[desecrator]

Anyone else notice that there seems to be an "R" missing in the word "CURRENCY"?

Is this a common fake, or original error?

 

[Montana Jim]

Anyone else notice that there seems to be an "R" missing in the word "CURRENCY"?

Is this a common fake, or original error?

The fake on e-bay also shows one "R"... Good eye desecrator!

The original I posted has two "R"s...

Back to the drawing board..?

 

[bakergeol]

quote author=desecrator link=topic=74172.msg540165#msg540165 date=1173385760]
Anyone else notice that there seems to be an "R" missing in the word "CURRENCY"?

Is this a common fake, or original error?
[/quote]

Both variations in spelling are found in the original and later reproductions of this coin.

I originally gave a test for pewter here but have since learned that these coins were actually classified as tin (95% tin) and not actual pewter as seen in this reference. Perhaps the test would be invalid? Here is a variety with only one R.

http://www.rcw1.com/m/product_info....94907&osCsid=5c67b6c2fb71ba44ef83ceca1786f0f7


George

 

[Don in SJ]

Odds on favorite a reproduction for several reasons, where found, odds against, and matches a cast reproduction.

Wish it were a real one for you but my gut says, repro and not worth much at all.

The following is quoted from "FAQ: The Continental "Dollar" on the ND site.

These coins are quite rare. Originals are valued at between $1,000 (in poorer condition) to about $15,000 is excellent condition. However, many reproductions and replicas have been made over the years for collectors; these reproductions have little or no market value. Some are sold for $1.00 as souvenirs at colonial sites as in Williamsburg, VA. The replicas have exactly the same markings as the originals but they are of a different metal (usually tin or lead) and have a different weight. Several, but not all replicas, are slightly smaller in diameter than the originals.

If you would like to determine if your coin is a rare original you should contact the American Numismatic Association. They provide an authentication service. Their site is located on the web at:
A company providing a grading service is the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS). They will attribute and grade colonial coins. Their services and prices are listed on the web at:

http://pcgs.com/

I should caution you I have 2-3 requests per week from individuals who think they have original "Continental Dollars." Statistically, based on the rarity of original examples and the large quantity of replicas, it is probable your coin may be a copy. Varieties with both the correct spelling (Currency) and the misspellings (Curency and Currencey) have been extensively copied.
(End of ND site text)

Another word of caution on coin dealers, a lot of "coin dealers" are clueless on identifying Colonial era coins, including some of the nationally known attribution companies.
They may be experts on modern coinage but the knowledge base on Colonials is limited and I suggest contacting a member of the Colonial Coin Collectors Club to get the most accurate information on any colonial era coin.

Don

 

[l.cutler]

If you want to have it professionally checked for your own peace of mind go ahead, but it is one of the thousands of cheap cast copies sold as souvenirs.

 

[hollowpointred]

incredible find! for sure, get it certified.

 

[Functional]

Im only posting this coin after reading about the 1876 trade dollar I found this coin on an old homestead back in 1999 in eastern oregon i have taken this coin to 5 coin dealers all agreed the coin is pewter and they all said it was fake but the lowest offer made on the coin was $3200. 1 of the dealers did walk me to the car with $5000. in hand did not want me to leave.. i have never showed the coin again till now. Is it just a good collectable counterfeit or??.

Whatever it is, I wouldn't be in any hurry to sell it. And as far as it possibly being made from pewter, the quote below addresses that.
Quotes from: http://www.coinfacts.com/colonial_coins/continental_dollars/1776_continental_dollar.htm
"Patterns, using designs provided by Benjamin Franklin, were struck in Pewter, Brass, and Silver."

"Coinage began in secret, pending the hoped for loan of silver from France, these were struck primarily in tin, a few in brass, copper and even a silver example or two are known."

More on this coin:
http://www.coins.nd.edu/ColCoin/ColCoinText/CC-Dollar.1.html
I can't tell from the pictures whether your coin has the added engraver's "signature," EG FECIT, as mentioned here:
http://www.coinresource.com/guide/photograde/pg_$1Continental.htm

Additional information on the pages linked to above might help, but as others have said, getting it authenticated is the only real way to know for sure.

F.

 

[alkoz]

yeah,its a replica, i saw over 5 at a coin shop. he was selling them for $2.

 

[texan connection]

A Fake of a Fake, Now I'm confused.
But I will say that I dont mind a coin dealer making a 10% profit if he hooks me up with a buyer that pays market value,(wish I had somthing like that to sell) but to be taken for anything more than that and not lay all the cards on the table is Stealing in my opinion.If that dealer was honest, and up front he could have snaged 500.00 or more, Cash, for getting you a buyer, what a greedy dummy.

 

[GTI2000]

Well after contacting several coin certification places they all wanted $900-$1200 to look at the coin to determine if it was real, I would also have to become a member $199 and if it was real pay an additional $100 for cleaning and certification!. If it was fake im out $1500... no thanks...