Evaluating a "Continental Curency" coin

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Hi all, just joined and looking to learn and share.

 

I have a family member's massive coin collection. Many packaged nicely with details. Many very nice from all over the world.

 

This was in a bag with the few coins not yet put into flips and labled. If it helps, some of those are ones I know are at least worth something (buffalo nickels and mercury dimes, for example). So you'll understand why I have the dimmest of hopes.

 

It's defintely pewter. I don't have a small scale (probably should get one), but it has decent heft to it unlike some definite novelty coins of other types I've seen.

 

If you can't make out from photo, is there any particular sign it might be legit? I remember awhile ago hearing signs it's a replica but I didn't see any of those.

 

 I can take it out for another better picture if that helps.  I only did it a few hours ago.

 

Thanks all!

 

 

I'm a newbie to collecting so not a scooby really so wait for the experts to arrive 

The word currency is spelled incorrectly on your item there is only one R in it instead of two

Would think this is the best match in this catalogue so far

Replica - The Continental Dollar - United States – Numista

 

There is another replica listed on this link but it makes no sense to me as the picture is for 1776 item but date on the listing says 1783 but the information listed of KM numbers looks sound each links to a 1776 dated item. Medal - Continental Dollar - United Kingdom – Numista

DizzyBlue

I'm a newbie to collecting so not a scooby really so wait for the experts to arrive 

The word currency is spelled incorrectly on your item there is only one R in it instead of two

Would think this is the best match in this catalogue so far

Replica - The Continental Dollar - United States – Numista

 

There is another replica listed on this link but it makes no sense to me as the picture is for 1776 item but date on the listing says 1783 but the information listed of KM numbers looks sound each links to a 1776 dated item. Medal - Continental Dollar - United Kingdom – Numista

 

 

Ahh. See, I tried searching for the old timey misspelling. Search engines are tricky sometimes.

 

I am very dubious of course. Nice to dream, though. Thanks for the link, I'm pretty sure it's not secretly a fortune piece I got.

Yeah lets get some hi res photos with weight and diameter outside of the flip.  Will be fun!

Slipstreamed

Yeah lets get some hi res photos with weight and diameter outside of the flip.  Will be fun!

I can tell you it's 24 grams. Does that rule it out straight away?

Greetings RJ.  Just FYI: there's a (legitimate) Pewter version currently up for auction at Great Collections.  I would recommend comparing yours to the high-resolution image at GC:

Auction listing:  https://www.greatcollections.com/Coin/1918695/1776-Continental-Currency-CURENCY-Pewter-PCGS-MS-64-CAC-Green

 

Both yours and the one on GC both use the word "CURENCY" (spelled with one "R").  So the spelling is not a concern.  There are several known varieties of the Pewter version with a spelling of just one "R" as documented in the Red Book.  If you don't know what the Red Book is, it's highly recommended as a trusted source of information for American coins.  Here's an Amazon link so that you can at least see what book I'm referring to:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/0794851630

 

The "Standard Catalog of U.S. Altered and Counterfeit Coins" is another book that I like to use.  It has a section on Continental dollars.  This book states on page 174 that the originals were struck on more than one die with the Pewter version itself weighing 258 grains.  Use a calculator and you'll see that if you convert grains to grams, the result (16.7 grams) is significantly different than what you're seeing.  This book states that some very sophisticated counterfeits have been made.  I can't tell much from (your) example that is sitting inside a flip.  Sometimes a combination of the plastic and lighting can play tricks on the eye.  But I hope you find this information helpful.

 

You can always bring your example to an LCS (Local coin shop) in your area and let them take a look at it.  They have resources with which to do a deeper inspection.  Good luck.

Just clicked on the auction link ……. HOW CHUFFING MUCH!! 😱 oh my giddy aunt!! 

And still a couple of hours left to bid …. in UK £'s I make that errr £98,233.64 plus fees…..

 

I'm not surprised at all.  A genuine example of this one is a really big deal in American numismatics.  Hence, this is why RJ wants to know if his example is real.  😀

 

Greysheet pricing on this one is currently listed at over $200K (USD).  The whales (big spenders) will probably jump in at the least 5 minutes of the auction and push it up substantially.

 Eight hours to go - opening and current bids … 

 

 

 

 Each tenth bid … 

1st  -   $1.00 / Thu, Jan 01, 2026 11:04:01 PM 

10th - $11,500.00 / Sat, Jan 03, 2026 3:56:39 PM 

20th - $20,200.00 / Mon, Jan 05, 2026 1:06:49 PM 

30th  - $33,800.00 / Fri, Jan 23, 2026 3:08:15 PM 

40th  - $63,109.00 / Fri, Jan 23, 2026 3:08:15 PM 

50th - $133,750.00 / Sat, Feb 07, 2026 9:16:28 AM 

Token collector [1600-1899] with some coins

Sold to bidder number 13 (didn't climb any higher)

Can't believe I actually got up to watch the ending of bidding! 🙄

I'm surprised it didn't go higher.  I'm happy for the buyer, though.

 

With the juice, the buyer is going to have to shell out about $150K (USD) total:

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