1806 Fake Penny?

[coppercop]

This Penny dated 1806, very worn, is much smaller than my other Pennies, and, I read it should be 1 mm larger...first pic shows it on top of the other Pennies, which are below, and further out.measures 8.26 grams....could this be a fake?

Thanks

Cal

[Rob]

This Penny dated 1806, very worn, is much smaller than my other Pennies, and, I read it should be 1 mm larger...first pic shows it on top of the other Pennies, which are below, and further out.measures 8.26 grams....could this be a fake?

Thanks

Cal

First of all it is a halfpenny, not a penny. A forgery is possible given the normal weight range quoted in Peck is 141.3-152.2 grains which is 9.15 grams at the lower end. You'd never know from the detail though. Has the rim been filed down?

Keep it as a curio because they are probably the commonest halfpenny of all and a nice example can be acquired very cheaply.

Pennies are 34mm dia and 3mm thick, 1806 halfpennies are 29mm dia and 2 - 2.5mm thick.

Edited December 25, 2011 by Rob