How can you tell if an 1861 Confederate half dollar coin is a fake or not?

Answer 1

An original Confederate coin would be quite valuable and there are recognized "restrikes" that were made from the original dies at a later date which will also bring a fairly large sum (hundreds, not thousands) and a lot of counterfiets. I believe the Guide Book of United States Coins has some information. It may be enough to determine that it is a fake. If you believe it may be an original or restrike after comparing it to the descriptions in the book, take it to a dealer and have it certified by PCGS or ANACS.

spiropoulos half dollar 1861 CONFEDERATE

r. lovett's coin

off to the left of the liberty side along the shoe, is an engraved l,

not punched.

4. Mine has 17 buds on the left corn stalk, not 19 as others.

ALL OTHERS HAVE 19,INCLUDING RESTRIKES. and ANS COIN*** 5. When flipped over top to bottom, most coins remain in upright positions not so with mine, They reverse

themselves, size is 28mm, the normal half dollar is 30,

The restrikes, and so called originals are 30 mm, mine 28 mm

This accounts why a hand press had to be used,

To small for the coining press.

This was done to prove a new obverse,

since it was so similar to the federal obverse.

6. The T, I believe represents Taylor,

The M,represents Memmenger. Two coins with the T

this is the one with M also, Memmenger's coin,

that went to Memmenger, it has a crack through date, and nose to rim.

mine has a fine crack from nose to rim,

AND ALSO CRACK THROUGH DATE AND HALF DOL.

CRACK FROM NOSE TO RIM

and from between liberty leg and first star,

seen under high resolution, on obverse the top of shield,

blank in the ans coin, mine has a forceps type of tool, IN TOP OF SHIELD ON CONFEDERATE SIDE IS A HEMOSTAT

A DOCTORS TOOL, TAYLOR WAS A DOCTOR

Perhaps with the T, wanted to show his trademark, he was a doctor, It has a T, stamped is to the right of the date.

An medical inst. in shield.A capital M, as part of the coin,

not stamped as T is.

Original, or copies that he said he made,

as stated in the Taylor to Wright letters

the letters that cannot be found and verified.

The original letters cannot be found

from Taylor to Wright, see below

from Wash.D.C. and Phil. The ones accepted

but not found, many have been stolen, lost,

or misfiled. stating many were submitted,

and only one chosen.

The description does not go into fine details.

What was chosen, mine fits that description given

As stated in letters not located but accepted,

as the base foundation for the very existence

of 1861 conf. half dollar.