By Jack Riley
A counterfeit 1918 Half Dollar–part of what I refer to as the “Ruptured N Family”–has been documented for several years and recently surfaced on Facebook, prompting this article. As is common with many modern counterfeits, the piece displays grainy surfaces, raised lumps within the fields, and design elements that appear inconsistent with genuine examples and poorly executed.
Another example offered online from a non-reputable source.
A comparison of the obverses show repeating marks with a prominent depression of the “N” and a noticeable dent in the lower gown.
Of course, this would not be considered a “family” without additional dates. Evidence suggests a large-scale operation, with counterfeiters mixing and matching both obverse and reverse dies. Notably the 1920 and 1947 dated examples also display the distinctive large dot on the sun (highlighted in red).
Given the mix of various date and mintmark combinations, I did not provide an overview of the reverses, as they differ significantly. On the obverse, however, two consistent diagnostics are always present.
Once again, this counterfeit family reminds me to advise newer collectors to follow these general guidelines:
- If you are ready to bid hundreds of dollars on a coin, resist buying a raw one and shop for one holdered by PCGS, NGC, ANACS and CAC.
- Be especially careful when purchasing raw coins from eBay and other online venues. TAI bots cannot detect counterfeits, so you are on your own.
- Make sure the seller takes returns and has good reviews. Also, the number of positive reviews is a good indicator. If someone has 0 sales or even fewer than 100, do not take a chance.
- Weigh the coin and go to PCGS CoinFacts for the date and mintmark, checking your coin against weights and dimensions.
- Read this article about detecting counterfeits.
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