Lucky find 1870 Quarter

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bushman74
Posts: 120
Joined: Wed Dec 26, 2012 4:27 pm

Lucky find 1870 Quarter

Post by bushman74 » Sat Feb 10, 2018 3:06 pm

A friend of mine came across an interesting/amazing find (if it's real).

Approx 2 weeks back he went to a MacDonald's in a Walmart store and ordered a hamburger.

He paid with a bank note and got some change back. One of the coins felt different so he had a look and then showed it to his wife. She was surprised and said "Wow it's a Vickie".

He had a closer look and realized it was an 1870 Queen Vic Quarter.

When he first told me I was rather skeptical and said I would like to see it. I also suggested that he put it in a 2 x 2 or something for protection.

He put it in a soft fabric bag and brought it to me to see.

Here are the obverse and reverse pics.

[img]
18-02-08%20~%201870%20quarter%20obv%2002sm.jpg
[/img]
[img]
18-02-08%20~%201870%20quarter%20rev%2001sm.jpg
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The coin appears cleaned. He told me he didn't touch them and that this occurred after he put it in the bag and that it had toning before.

I'm poor when it comes to old coins, I know bank notes.

What are your thoughts on it?

First does it look real? Not a fake?

If real, is it a Q1? That's what I would say.

What about the grade? I am thinking an F10.

Looking forward to everyone's thoughts, especially Bill, Shylo, coinguy and a few others.

I will pass on all thoughts to him.

Thanks
Attachments
18-02-08 ~ 1870 quarter obv 02sm.jpg
18-02-08 ~ 1870 quarter obv 02sm.jpg (81.46 KiB) Viewed 8529 times
18-02-08 ~ 1870 quarter rev 01sm.jpg
18-02-08 ~ 1870 quarter rev 01sm.jpg (90.93 KiB) Viewed 8529 times

Bill in Burl
Posts: 1469
Joined: Thu Sep 04, 2008 7:41 am
Location: Golden Horseshoe, ONT

Re: Lucky find 1870 Quarter

Post by Bill in Burl » Sat Feb 10, 2018 3:28 pm

I do not collect Victoria silver, so I am by no means anything other than a newbie as far as the coins go. I HAVE attended a few seminars on fakes/counterfeits so I'll just show a photo of a real one. I do know that there are fakes out for the 1870 and one of the first places to look is right at the top of the bridge of the nose .. they don't get the contour right. Your coin seems to show a deep pit there. Maybe Jimmy or Mike M will tune in. If I knew more about the denomination and Obv types, I might be able to tell more, especially in hand. Post this on the Coin Community Forum and you may get some 25 cent collectors to chime in.
http://www.coinsandcanada.com/coins-pri ... -1870-1901
Bill in Burl

coinguy
Posts: 1343
Joined: Tue Aug 16, 2016 10:03 am
Location: Golden Horseshoe Area

Re: Lucky find 1870 Quarter

Post by coinguy » Sat Feb 10, 2018 4:32 pm

bushman74
If your friend really got this in change, then as you say
it is an amazing find.
I will try to answer your questions the best I can.
To me the coin appears genuine. I don't see any
of the markers associated with a counterfeit.
It is as you pointed out a OQ1 Variety.
I would grade it a little higher, around F12-F15.
The only part of your post I find hard to believe is that
the toning got removed by putting it in a soft fabric bag.
That would not remove toning.
It looks to me like it has been lightly cleaned.
I see that Bill has chimed in, perhaps we can get more opinions.

bushman74
Posts: 120
Joined: Wed Dec 26, 2012 4:27 pm

Re: Lucky find 1870 Quarter

Post by bushman74 » Sat Feb 10, 2018 9:54 pm

Thanks for your input Bill and Coinguy.

I think it is actually a fake.

I downloaded the linked picture, enlarged the photos and compared them side by side.

The things I noted are:

- the indentation at the bridge of the nose
- C (in cent) is at an angle
- the shape of the E and it's centre don't seem correct
- the top of the T is not correct
- the size of the S is slightly different
- the top of the 5 is blunt rather then point

These may just be my imagination so I will suggest he bring it to Robert at Calgary Coin. Robert is excellent at spotting fakes.

Once again thanks for your input.

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