Finally Found a Capped Bust Half Dollar... Sort Of

[paleomaxx]

I've been puzzling over this pewter disc all evening. Carefully cleaning the dirt off with a toothpick and trying to figure out what it is. There was obviously a design and writing, but it was just couldn't put my finger on it until I rotated it just right and... BAM!



Figures; despite everything I've dug to date, capped bust coins have been eluding me and instead of digging a real half-dollar I dig a pewter counterfeit. Definitely a good chuckle and it looks like a contemporary fake which is cool. I was actually able to get a faint date off the obverse and it looks like 1828. It makes me wonder if they lost it, or realized it was a fake and chucked it.

There was a ton more at this site that I'm still cleaning and I'll post that stuff later, but I just had to upload this in the hopes that you would get a good laugh out of it too!

 

[against the wind]

That's a heartbreaker,, congrats on the find,, sad that it's not real.

 

[smokeythecat]

It's actually very nice. Contemporary counterfeits are collectible in themselves. The King George III counterfeits can be pricier than the originals.

 

[the_mad_cladder]

A fake cap bust is better than no cap bust, which is what I got. At least it was crusty and didn’t fool you from the get-go.

 

[Evolution]

I love finds like these. Wish they could tell a story. I found a seated counterfeit half 4 or 5 years ago. One of my favorite finds. Congrats on yours!

 

[basque-man]

Fake or Not, what a great piece of history you have found!!!! Awesome save in our books!!!!!

 

[the_mad_cladder]

A fake cap bust is better than no cap bust, which is what I got. At least it was crusty and didn’t fool you from the get-go.

 

[paleomaxx]

I love finds like these. Wish they could tell a story. I found a seated counterfeit half 4 or 5 years ago. One of my favorite finds. Congrats on yours!

Thank you! I'm definitely glad to have found it; and grateful that the soil was nicer to it than most of the pewter I've dug recently. I found it a good ways from the homesite down the side of an embankment and it does make you wonder if someone lost some real money with this counterfeit. I was looking at a few purchasing power calculators and depending on how you measure it, this would have been $150 to $300 in today's wages. Ouch.

 

[washingtonian]

Ha, dang. Still a lot closer than I've ever come to finding one. Nicely done!

 

[sutphin]

I WILL TAKE IT FAKE OR NOT. SURE BEATS THE HELL OUT THEM DANG CANSLAW EARRINGS I HAVE BEEN FINDING.

 

[Eastcoasthunter21]

It is a good find for sure. I found a 1/2 cut 8 real.
Soon as this was cut someone knew it was fake
Mine was copper plated with silver it was a good job for sure hh gl.

 

[trapperart]

It's a cool find congrats

 

[Trezurehunter]

I think its a great find. Thinking of the time and everything else involved in making a coin counterfeit is a great character point. It should make a great conversation piece.

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Very interesting coin find! Awesome piece of history with a great story behind it.

 

[Hawks88]

The date makes it all worth it. Congrats!

 

[Rubka888]

I found a pewter capped bust half just like yours. I was disappointed it wasn't real but I am still happy with it.

 

[Davers]

I found a pewter capped bust half just like yours. I was disappointed it wasn't real but I am still happy with it.

I agree , it's still a neat historic find.

 

[hogge]

I have a few, different denominations from penny to dollar. They are actually collectible and there is a data base for the different varieties....believe it or not. Pretty kool.

 

[dirtlooter]

still a very cool find, just more proof that people have been trying to make their own money (fake of course) forever. it is sad when honest people get burned by them. still history and still very cool