Contemporary counterfeits

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villa66
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Contemporary counterfeits

Beitrag von villa66 » Mo 28.02.11 17:00

In America during the early 1930s, as elsewhere, times were hard and money was often difficult to find. Across the country--in basements and garages and other hidden places—many formerly honest Americans tried their (unemployed) hands at the business of manufacturing “coins.”

“Contemporary counterfeits,” as they are familiarly called, made not to fool a collector, but to spend as money.

Fraudulent? Yes. But sometimes, also, desperate. Children need to eat. And sick children need medicine.

A half dollar could make a big difference, so half dollars were a favorite subject. Many of these home-made “coins” were of terrible quality, like the “1877cc half dollar” below (although its exact date of manufacture is unknown, of course)....
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villa66
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Re: Contemporary counterfeits

Beitrag von villa66 » Mo 28.02.11 17:02

It seems difficult to believe that a counterfeit as crude as the “1877cc half dollar” would fool anyone, but quality is a relative concept. In an isolated, rushed, or coin-starved community it can be surprising what will pass as good.

Note too that the usual condition of genuine coins in use at the time can also matter. Seated Liberty coins still circulated in the America of the early-30s, but many of the survivors had been reduced to the state of this Civil War veteran from New Orleans, seen below.

It may be that one of the last jobs this old half dollar ever had—precisely because of its terrible condition—was to provide cover for a fake “half dollar,” if only indirectly.

:) v.
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Afrasi
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Re: Contemporary counterfeits

Beitrag von Afrasi » Mo 28.02.11 22:20

Again an interesting story on "ordinary" coins. Many thanks!

btw: I am addicted to ordinary coins. ;-)
Ich könnte mich über Vieles aufregen, aber zum Glück bin ich nicht verpflichtet dazu. :-)

villa66
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Re: Contemporary counterfeits

Beitrag von villa66 » Do 03.03.11 20:41

Afrasi hat geschrieben:...btw: I am addicted to ordinary coins. ;-)
It's always a pleasure to be able to share an enthusiasm. :wink:

I note the 1861o half dollar illustrated above is possibly an issue of the United States of America, but as the striking of these coins continued after the New Orleans mint was seized at the beginning of the Civil war, this particular coin is somewhat more likely to be an issue of the State of Lousiana, or of the Confederate States of America.

Hard money disappeared during the early years of the American Civil War--as it often does during wartime--and so most of the circulation wear evident on this 1861o half dollar was in all probability inflicted on it after the general return of silver coins to American commercial channels about 1876 or so.

For fun, and for comparison, below is a New Orleans-mint half dollar that seems not to have returned to circulation after the war, but to have stayed hidden--or forgotten. A keepsake, perhaps?

:) v.
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villa66
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Re: Contemporary counterfeits

Beitrag von villa66 » Di 15.03.11 06:17

For fun, a couple of more contemporary counterfeits, both of which purport to be Walking Liberty half dollars. This one is a "1940" which was definitely not coined at the Philadelphia mint....
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villa66
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Re: Contemporary counterfeits

Beitrag von villa66 » Mi 16.03.11 02:27

And this "1934d" that was certainly not coined in Denver, not at the mint, anyway.

:) v.
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