United States, 1851 AD., fantasy coin or fake, the so-called “Indian Head Silver Dollarâ€, dated 1851 AD., produced ca. 1980-2010, probably in China.
USA, fantasy coin or fake, the so-called “Indian Head Silver Dollarâ€, dated 1851 AD., produced ca. 1980-2010,
1 Dollar fantasy coin (ø 38 mm / 17,75 g), silvered alloy, magnetic, axes coin alignment ↑↓ (180°), reeded edge,
Obv.: UNITED STATES - OF AMERICA * * / LIBERTY , Indian head facing left.
Rev.: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / 1 / DOLLAR / 1851 , value in wreath.
cf. http://www.theblackcabinet.org/counterfeit/cf-s1-1851-0001 , http://coinquest.com/cgi-bin/cq/coins?main_coin=15490 ; https://www.cointalk.com/threads/1851-dollar-price-with-indian-head.59372 .
there are also other issues of 37,5 mm / 22,7 g. (a fantasy token ?, non-official for shure).
These fantasy pieces are showing up all over the country and are passing as genuine silver dollars among those who are not aware that they simply do not exist. No such design has ever been featured on a United States silver dollar, nor has one been featured on any known pattern, either. The only thing we do know about these is that they were manufactured in mainland China.
This is a fantasy piece made in China to sell to tourists. They are also sold in the Chinatown sections of several major U.S. cities.
The indian head design similar to the indian cent of 1859 -1909 was not yet in use and I doubt had been even designed. The font is wrong for the time, "United States of America" only appears on one side of a real coin, rough features and texture, all scream non-mint. If you google "1851 dollar indian cent design" other photos and other forums have seen these occasionally, and come to the same conclusion. It is not a "trial" or "pattern" piece. It is a "fun" coin (Cited from: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/1851-dollar-price-with-indian-head.59372/) You never see UNITED STATES OF AMERICA on both sides of a real coin. This is a novelty piece made for fooling the unwary. It is not made of silver.
Value of these coins is due solely to the fact that it is a neat item, and people might be willing to pay as much as $10 US dollars to own one that is in good condition. Most of these you see are not as nice as the one in our picture, and they sell for a few dollars at novelty shops and tourist traps.