Not Half Bad...But A Bad Half!

[Bell-Two]

Went out yesterday to take advantage of the first dry day we have had in the last three. Since I figured the fields that have been turned would be very muddy I returned to the cornfield where I got the Large Cent the other day. My first find there was a button that turned out to be a beautiful Benedict & Burnham flower button. The Benedict & Burnham buttons were always of a high quality and nicely designed. The company was in existence from 1835 to 1840.

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t184/Tony_Mantia/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_2877_zpsfa9cc24b.jpg (http://s160.photobucket.com/user/Tony_Mantia/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_2877_zpsfa9cc24b.jpg.html)

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t184/Tony_Mantia/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_2878_zpsc0f920fd.jpg (http://s160.photobucket.com/user/Tony_Mantia/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_2878_zpsc0f920fd.jpg.html)

I then found a part of a pocket watch and two suspender buckles.

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t184/Tony_Mantia/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_2881_zpsf225d690.jpg (http://s160.photobucket.com/user/Tony_Mantia/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_2881_zpsf225d690.jpg.html)

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t184/Tony_Mantia/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_2884_zpsfac73ba0.jpg (http://s160.photobucket.com/user/Tony_Mantia/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_2884_zpsfac73ba0.jpg.html)

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t184/Tony_Mantia/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_2882_zpsc002e76a.jpg (http://s160.photobucket.com/user/Tony_Mantia/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_2882_zpsc002e76a.jpg.html)

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t184/Tony_Mantia/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_2883_zps475d5897.jpg (http://s160.photobucket.com/user/Tony_Mantia/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_2883_zps475d5897.jpg.html)

I then found a copper disk with a chunk out of it at first I thought it might have been some kind of tag or fob but after getting it home and cleaning it a bit I had suspicions it may be more than that. I saw what I felt was a left facing bust and the back had an image that appeared to be an eagle. After cleaning and applying a light coat of olive oil the images were a bit clearer. I turned to Dave Wise know on the forums as Heavymetalnut, I posted him via face book a couple of pictures and within a couple of minutes he came back with the answer, a Counterfeit Capped Bust Half Dollar! I then sent pictures to an official of the Contemporary Counterfeit Half Dollar Club….yes there is such a club…. He sent me an e-mail confirming that it was a Counterfeit Half. A bit later he said he did some further research and based on what he saw of the bust and the positioning of motto bar that has the E Pluribus Unum motto he believes it is the rare one. He stated:

Tony, I love a challenge and did a bit more research on you contemporary counterfeit Capped Bust Half based upon the attributes of the partial facial profile of Liberty on the obverse and the eagle's elongated neck plus alignment of the slogan bar to the letter M of the edge's legend on the reverse. There is likelihood that it could be known as an 1834 17/Q variety (i.e. rare with only two specimens currently known)! Look at the website location at http://cccbhcc.com/2nd-edition-errors-changes.html#1834%2017Q

It looks as though this may have been a neck piece the hole at the edge of the fracture looks rounded. In person the bust is even more discernable as are the stars around the edge.

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t184/Tony_Mantia/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_2874_zps551792a9.jpg (http://s160.photobucket.com/user/Tony_Mantia/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_2874_zps551792a9.jpg.html)

The image on reverse is easier to see, clearly an eagle and the lettering in America is discernable when slightly tilted.

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t184/Tony_Mantia/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_2876_zps884f51ed.jpg (http://s160.photobucket.com/user/Tony_Mantia/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_2876_zps884f51ed.jpg.html)

I then went to a field I call the “Iron Field” which has given us many great finds. I wanted to try out my new Tesoro Cibola, the Tesoro’s are lightning fast and can pick out a target next to iron. I did not find anything significant with it but will try it again, as there were parts of this soybean field that were too muddy to walk in. I did make a good find with my eyes, an 1865 Indian Head lying on top of the ground. The heavy rains that we have had washed it out along with even more brick and glass.

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t184/Tony_Mantia/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_2879_zpsccb2fb19.jpg (http://s160.photobucket.com/user/Tony_Mantia/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_2879_zpsccb2fb19.jpg.html)

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t184/Tony_Mantia/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_2880_zps3c59b848.jpg (http://s160.photobucket.com/user/Tony_Mantia/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_2880_zps3c59b848.jpg.html)

[HEAVYMETALNUT]

that's just awesome Tony! amazing piece of history ! congrats!

[Isaac]

That counterfeit capped bust half dollar is the sheeeezzzz ! :wow: Congrats on a spectacular find!!! It's going to be hard to top that man!!! :omg::bananadance::yahoo::notworthy: looks like it was worn as a necklace and not on a string either because of that it broke off... the whole chunk of coin came off from the weight of the necklace ... it must've been a really brittle type metal

[aloldstuff]

A counterfeit half dollar club?????? What else can I learn on this forum???? Thanks for the lesson on counterfeit half dollars and what a great find. Hope your fields dry out soon.

[BTV Digger]

Awesome old coin Tony! Had to chuckle on the Counterfeit Half Dollar Club. Can't imagine they have a huge membership...you should consider joining!

John

[Full Metal Digger]

Those are some really interesting finds Tony. The buckles sure look 1800s and of course the fake half dollar is a real good find. On those old gilt buttons if you lightly brush a little CLR on it and rinse immediately, they really shine up nice (you probably know that though). Congrats and HH, Dave.

[Nesdore]

WOW congrats Tony great hunt awesome counterfeit half dollar :clapping: nice looking Indian

[Trooper Bri]

Fantastic piece Tony! Congrats on a very nice score. Love that button too.

[Bell-Two]

Those are some really interesting finds Tony. The buckles sure look 1800s and of course the fake half dollar is a real good find. On those old gilt buttons if you lightly brush a little CLR on it and rinse immediately, they really shine up nice (you probably know that though). Congrats and HH, Dave.

exactly how I cleaned it Dave! Yes I use a 50/50 mixture of CLR and water, brush and rinse, brush and rinse.

[del]

Tony I first saw this button on facebook , its a great example from the "golden age" very nice one piece :smitten:love the counterfeit capped bust half too. very nice finds :congrats:

[Tony Two-Cent]

In this instance a bad half turned out to be very good! :thumbsup01:

That counterfeit half dollar is a fascinating find, Tony! Much more rare than an authentic bust half. Obviously it was silver plated at one time. That Counterfeit Capped Bust Half Collectors Club website is very interesting too. Some of the counterfeits are very crude, others are very convincing.

Nice button and 1865 Indian Head too! :thumbsup02:

Congrats on the fantastic finds! :clapping:

[Lodge Scent]

Great finds. Love that bad half!

[OxShoeDrew]

Impressive Tony, do you keep all your counterfeit halfs in one box? :lol:

[Bell-Two]

Impressive Tony, do you keep all your counterfeit halfs in one box? :lol:


Drew I keep Half in one box and Half in another! :envious: :twirlingeyes:

[giant056]

Very cool old counterfit :cool: great bunch of finds :thumbsup02:

[fsa46]

Sweet oldies Tony. WTG

[Relic]

That's awesome! Great finds!!
I found a counterfeit trade dollar, years ago...They are certainly exciting finds!