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.

 

[CRUSADER]

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

The underlined is a good point, could be a poorly made (although I'm on the side a counterfeit). As MB says don't try & clean it anyone.

 

[BomberJohn]

It is definitely a three cent silver. And I agree with Don, the acidicy of the soil has eaten it away. Here's an overlay of a three cent silver outline. Even the outer rim is gone.

HH,
BomberJohn

 

[West Jersey Detecting]

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.

Counterfeiting small denominations is unusual, but there have been numerous posts here on TNet with counterfeit Large Cents.

In the 1950's Francis L. Henning of Erial, New Jersey was convicted of counterfeiting 200,000 US Nickels. It is estimated that 100,000 of the coins made it into circulation, and the remaining 100,000 were dumped into the creek near my home. The Secret Service recovered 14,000 of the coins, leaving 86,000 unaccounted for. I have located the exact spot of the dumping based on my interviews with eyewitnesses (some of whom actually grabbed a few bucket fulls of the coins; the secret service showed up at the local elementary school the very next day and confiscated the coins from these children) , but I think 50 years of muck has made it impossible to find the remaining coins.

For more information on counterfeit US coins, including the Henning Nickel, click here: http://www.numismaticenquirer.com/TNE/Counterfeit U.S. Coins.html

 

[JoeinMemphis]

I am with Bomber and Don. I believe it to be the real thing, and I think the acidic soil caused by the pine needle decay it has been in constant contact with over the last 150 years, is why its condition is so poor. As to cleaning, in its present condition it isn't worth much, but I don't think I would go the electrolysis route due to its aggressiveness. I don't think i would use anything any more harsh than maybe dish detergent and a soft toothbrush to remove any loose particles. HH Joe

 

[fistfulladirt]

The edges are not perfectly round which could make it a counterfeit, unless they've been eaten away...Kinda looks like the V-nickel that I found last year. The coin I found had only the obverse design "imprinted" into the coin, like a coin had been placed on top of a blank, and pressed. My coin has very good detail, with one side blank, and it's not perfectly round. FFD

 

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

The reason we think it is fake is that Silver won't corrod like that. Maybe in the ocean minerals will build up on silver or gold but that's after 100's and 100's of years. I think fires can do something like that to silver coins too not to sure. Well you could send it to PCGS they will tell you what it is....

Keep @ it and HH!!

 

[pinebarrens1]

its time for me to chime in .............i know the area lee hunts well.........real well.........the dirt in that area is not to acidic as you may think .....its more darker than the gray dirt found in nj .........if i were lee i would have it looked at ......and this guy doing so good in the last few months his finds would make any guy detecting for 30 years weep ........keep on the good roll lee ..........and it goes to tell you to swing slow with the minelab

 

[West Jersey Detecting]

No reason to believe this is not counterfeit:

 

[ticm]

No reason to believe this is not counterfeit:
<img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=654558"/>

Hey Neil's back on the forum!!!!!!!!

 

[jamesbibb]

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.

counterfiet is my call, with that much silver content it would be in good condition. This one is a counterfiet for sure jmo

 

[jamesbibb]

No reason to believe this is not counterfeit:
View attachment 654558

NEAT

 

[YankeeDownSouthAdv.]

No reason to believe this is not counterfeit:
View attachment 654558

gotta love it, I grew up in WAterbury and know waterville very well.....

 

[Gunrunner61]

Counterfeit Is my call put it and mark it as such! cool find.......HH

 

[WhiteCountyPaleo]

I've found a coin spill in ground heavily laden with pine needles not too long ago. Every coin was changed and gave a funky reading then what they usually gave on the AT Pro. They were eaten up pretty bad. It's gotta be the pines.

 

[matt092079]

I am with Bomber and Don. I believe it to be the real thing, and I think the acidic soil caused by the pine needle decay it has been in constant contact with over the last 150 years, is why its condition is so poor. As to cleaning, in its present condition it isn't worth much, but I don't think I would go the electrolysis route due to its aggressiveness. I don't think i would use anything any more harsh than maybe dish detergent and a soft toothbrush to remove any loose particles. HH Joe

I found an 1896 barber quarter underneath a pine tree this year with no effect at all. It looked like it had just come straight from the mint. It certainly looks counterfeit to me.

 

[WhiteCountyPaleo]

I didn't see I chimed in on an old post. I'd rather see it being a fake. Makes for a great story.