counterfeit 3 cent piece

[pro778]

Found this today. Hard to make out. It looks like a 3 cent piece, but it looks like it was plated instead of silver. Any thoughts.

 

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[MUD(S.W.A.T)]

Electrolysis is a choice, if it is real should be some silver in there some where and the electrolysis will bring it out again. If it is fake the electrolysis may distroy it ( I mean completely disintegrate it) so its a tuff call.... Be careful if you use electrolysis don't zap it to long or with to much power. Here is a link for an easy cheap system that you can make, fun for the whole family.


(Kids please ask your parents before trying this!!)

http://gometaldetecting.com/electrolysis_cleaning.htm

Keep @ it and HH!!

 

[YankeeDownSouthAdv.]

wow, looks fairly simple...but i hate electrical wires, should of seen me changing out some gfi outlets, older wiring, sweated bullets..lol..but i may try this down the road, as an experiment on something not worth alot ..gregg

 

[West Jersey Detecting]

Found this today. Hard to make out. It looks like a 3 cent piece, but it looks like it was plated instead of silver. Any thoughts.

It is not plated. What you have is a nickel 3 cent piece. These were minted from 1865-1889. I have never found one, but many of my Liberty Nickels have the same type of coating. You are better off not cleaning it. Whatever patina remains will just peel off if you try.

Very nice find!
N

 

[pro778]

It hit like a nickle. I was surprised at the finish. It's pealing off. I'm not going to do anything to it. It looks better under the magnifying glass then it does in the scan. You can only make out the reverse side.

 

[Evolution]

Found this today. Hard to make out. It looks like a 3 cent piece, but it looks like it was plated instead of silver. Any thoughts.

It is not plated. What you have is a nickel 3 cent piece. These were minted from 1865-1889. I have never found one, but many of my Liberty Nickels have the same type of coating. You are better off not cleaning it. Whatever patina remains will just peel off if you try.

Very nice find!
N

I disagree. If you look closely, the design is the same as the one on the silver three center. Look here.

 

[Gilligan]

That is an odd coin as it should be 75% silver and 25% copper, not the other way around. Very interesting

 

[Don in SJ]

Well, it is for sure the three cent silver, but counterfeit, hmmmmmmmn, maybe. Was it found in very acidic conditions, like a low swampy area or in a heavily fertilzed area? If so, perhaps since they are so small and thin, and only 75% silver, that ground conditions made it look like that. Otherwise it is a counterfeit.......

Don

 

[pro778]

Found in pines. Not a swampy area. Didn't hit as silver. That's why I think it's a counterfeit. Looks like an old eaten away copper under the silver.

 

[allen]

real or counterfeit, that is a nice find...

 

[Don in SJ]

Found in pines. Not a swampy area. Didn't hit as silver. That's why I think it's a counterfeit. Looks like an old eaten away copper under the silver.

It has been awhile since I have checked to see where a three center hits, but I am sure it would not be like a silver coin on most detectors, I will check mine tomorrow. With it being 25% copper to begin with, and in the corroded state it is in, it had to register lower. Even Half Reals do not register as high as any normal silver coin, eg: Mercury dime.

Still could be legit, it is corroded, therefore it was most likely in acidic pine soils, which I am very familar with here in Jersey....

Don

 

[kdismuke1]

NICE FIND ANYWAY.CONGRATS.

 

[Twin Digger]

what is it?

 

[mlayers]

real or not it is still a keeper....Matt

 

[Michiganne]

Nice find, Lee. Anything that old is cool.

HH

 

[West Jersey Detecting]

Found this today. Hard to make out. It looks like a 3 cent piece, but it looks like it was plated instead of silver. Any thoughts.

It is not plated. What you have is a nickel 3 cent piece. These were minted from 1865-1889. I have never found one, but many of my Liberty Nickels have the same type of coating. You are better off not cleaning it. Whatever patina remains will just peel off if you try.

Very nice find!
N

I disagree. If you look closely, the design is the same as the one on the silver three center. Look here.

Good Eye, Evolution. Had I looked more closely I would have noticed the design was of the silver variety. As Don stated, I am sure this sized coin would hit somewhere in the pulltab range on most detectors. I am curious what the results of his test yield.

I have seen counterfeit nickels and large cents, so you never know! Either way, I think that it is an unusual find, especially for this region!

 

[Jack_MIghtyheart]

Would it even make sense for someone to counterfeit a 3-cent piece? It seems like for the amount of time/money put into it, you could do better. Nonetheless, a very interesting find. I don't think the acidic soil here in Jersey would eat away at a real silver like that, so it might be a fake.

 

[CRUSADER]

Would it even make sense for someone to counterfeit a 3-cent piece? It seems like for the amount of time/money put into it, you could do better. Nonetheless, a very interesting find. I don't think the acidic soil here in Jersey would eat away at a real silver like that, so it might be a fake.

They were counterfeiting Halfpennies only a few years earlier which were the second lowest denomination in circulation. So yes very likely it was worth the bother.

I'm thinking counterfeit as well, looks like many I have found (not 3-cent but shillings etc..)

 

[Joe Hoo?]

I AGREE WITH EVOLUTION.... NICE FIND AND LOOKS LIKE A 3 CENT TO ME.....

 

[MonkeyBoy]

The early composition was 75% Silver and 25% Copper so maybe it is a 1851 - 1853 that reacted to the ground more then normal? The nickel 3 cent piece is a different design, I have dug one in 20 years of digging and you have to tilt it to see the detail. It is also possible that you have one that the alloy mix was not correct.. you see that with some early nickels, and it could be fake. In any case, I would not do anything to it if it is not stable other then just try sealing it in wax to prevent it from flaking anymore.. any way you go.. nice find!!

MB