Expert: Dmitry Livshits - 1/22/2011

Question
QUESTION: What is this coin made of? It is gold in color but, all I see or find is silver. Does this coin have any usd value?
     Thank You

ANSWER: Hi Sue,
I can tell you right away that this is not a genuine coin. There were no such coins made past 1892. Sometimes the 1 on these coins can look like a 7, but there were no 1891 dated coins made either.
It's a fantasy issue, meaning it's an unofficial make of a non-existent coin, whereas a counterfeit is an unofficial issue of an existing coin.
Whether it's a modern or antique piece is the big question. Without seeing a picture of it I would not be able to say. A modern piece would not have collectible value, while an antique piece that was meant to actually circulate as currency will have some collector value.
Since it's a gold color it most likely brass or an alloy of brass. That is usually the case for the older pieces. Modern fantasy and counterfeit coins are generally made of an alloy that has a dull silvery look.
Thanks for the question! =)

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Here is pics of the coin. I dug this up near St, Louis,Mo. approx. 27 or 28 years ago.
   Thanks for any ifo you can give.
       Sue

Answer
Hi Sue,
Ok, this is actually a genuine modern coin with an error. I though you had the 19th century 50 centavos (like the one in the picture I attached), but you have a 1997 50 centavos. There is a small error where the die that struck the coin was filled in and caused the 9 to have a closed bottom loop like an 8.
It's an interesting item and would be worth up to $5 dollars to an error collector.
Thanks again for the question! =)