Circulating Contemporary Counterfeit U.S. Coins

1868 Steel Coin Dies for Making Counterfeit Shield Nickels.

52 mm x 53 mm x 28 mm when assembled. Composed of two square steel dies, each with a very accurate reversed intaglio image one of the sides of an 1868 Shield nickel. The two pieces can be precisely fit and held together by a pair of integral pins that mate with a pair of appropriately sized holes on the opposing half of the unit. Since there is not a way to pour molten metal into this pair of dies, soft metal planchets of an appropriate size were produced, placed between the dies and squeezed together in a vice or hit with a hammer. The counterfeit coins produced by these dies were probably far more convincing than those made from the wood and lead counterfeit molds we are offering.

From the Steve M. Tompkins Collection.

Estimate: $ 1500