Fake Barber half?

[JobIII]

Found a Barber half 1897 last night.

Not sure if it's a replica, reprint, counterfeit or play money.

I can bend the coin, it makes a thud noise when dropped and leaves a trail on paper like pencil markings.

I'm also certain the weight is off.

It's pretty worn and scratched.

Has anyone seen coins like this? I feel like i've come across examples in the past.

~JobIII

[TheJonasCollegeFund]

acid test?

lots of Chinese knock offs out there....and they are making them look worn. I guess the nice fakes are easy to spot.

If you can bend it....try backing off the steroids a bit!

[JobIII]

Not worth that much effort.

I've just never seen coins made out of such soft metal.

[Colonel_Copper]

come now,
you know you're supposed to EAT those chocolate coins, not collect them
LOL

[tn-dave]

Have you tried a magnet..??

[ed_vantage17]

Sounds like lead to me. Not silver for sure so not real in the true sense of the word.

[rainsonme]

Could this have been "play" money from 100 years ago? Able to bend it, and leaves a mark on paper --- it does sound like lead. But no one in 2011 would make a replica or fake out of lead. They might have done that in 1890, though.

[rainsonme]

I found a thread talking about fake coins. A similar half (1907) is mentioned at the bottom of the discussion, with speculation that the material is pewter. At the beginning of the thead they talk about a very intereesting fake half dug up while metal detecting. They mention that there is a market for faked coins.

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php?topic=413622.0

[JobIII]

The condition of this coin is so bad. I'm not sure anyone would want it.

[rexmerdinus]

Hmmm...the first law of metaphysics states that nothing unreal exists.

Yeah, whatever. I'll echo what was said above--sounds like either pewter or lead...try melting it to male something useful like a bullet!

[Rodebaugh]

The condition of this coin is so bad. I'm not sure anyone would want it.

Sold a yuck old fake Walker....Buyer was very excited about getting an old school counti.......Heavy collector of the walaker series....already has a nice set....just looking for new things to add to the roster...gotta respect a a true collector.