Another Bad Coin in a Good Holder: My Deep Dive into the Latest eBay 1806 Half Cent Counterfeits

Lately, I’ve noticed a disturbing trend of fakes making the rounds, and the flood of counterfeit 1806 half cents turning up in legitimate TPG holders really caught my attention. What began as a few isolated cases back in 2015 has grown to at least 16 confirmed fakes, including one that surfaced on eBay just last week. As someone who’s handled early American coppers for decades, I want to pass along what I’ve learned to help fellow collectors avoid getting burned.

Tracking Down the Source

I first stumbled across one of these counterfeits years ago, and it sparked my curiosity. Since then, I’ve identified multiple die states tracing back to around 2008, with connections pointing toward College Station, Texas. What worries me most is how convincing they are – these aren’t crude copies but skilled reproductions meant to deceive. When you compare them side-by-side with genuine pieces, the reverses often reveal subtle flaws in the lettering and wreath details. One particular die state even shows a repaired gouge above the ‘A’ in ‘AMERICA’ – once you spot it, you’ll never miss it again.

How Graders Get Fooled

Like many of you, I couldn’t understand how these slipped into NGC and PCGS holders. From examining several examples, they pass initial inspection because they’re so well executed. Under casual scrutiny, the differences aren’t obvious. But when you study multiple fakes together, the patterns jump out. Take that AU-58 example I inspected last month – the artificial toning had an unnaturally perfect sheen that would fool anyone except a half-cent specialist. This reveals a weakness in the grading system: evaluating coins individually without comparing them against known counterfeits.

Spotting Trouble Before It Finds You

Here’s what I look for to spot these fakes before they land in my collection:

• Reverse red flags: Pay special attention to the wreath details and lettering – inconsistencies around the ‘A’ in ‘AMERICA’ are particularly revealing
• Suspicious toning: Artificial patina often looks too uniform compared to natural oxidation
• Questionable backstories: Be skeptical of unlikely provenance tales, like the ‘cleaning lady discovery’ story I heard recently
• Date assumptions: Never assume a coin is genuine because of its rarity – forgers target obscure dates precisely because collectors let their guard down

What This Means for Collectors

This situation reminds us all to stay on our toes. I’ve seen respected dealers accidentally pass these fakes along, so always verify purchases yourself, especially for tough dates like the 1805 half cent. The fact that these counterfeits keep appearing proves that even lower-value coins aren’t safe – forgers count on them being less scrutinized. My advice? Get to know specialists in the field, always inspect coins under magnification, and report anything suspicious to grading services immediately. They’ve corrected labels before when collectors spoke up, which helps everyone.

Parting Thoughts

Chasing these counterfeits has taught me that every collector can be fooled. I’m thankful for our community’s willingness to share knowledge – it’s how we uncover these operations. You’ll find me keeping tabs on eBay listings and documenting new discoveries. Remember: your greatest protection is knowing your coins. Study die varieties, handle genuine examples at shows, and never trust a slab blindly. In this hobby, a sharp eye beats a high grade every time.