VOCABULARY TERM: STRUCK COPY

Struck Copy. A replica made by striking with copy dies. A struck copy is not cast and not an electrotype, it is not struck with the original die nor made from the original hub (if it was so make). It must be from new dies, each side a copy die of the original; which could be cut by hand or machine, and will always have minor differences from the original. Numismatists seek to identify these minor differences to identify one or more diagnostic details to differentiate the original from the copy.

To classify or describe a struck copy it is necessary to know the intent of the maker: if the intent was honorable a struck copy can be considered a reproduction or facsimile; if the intent was questionable, it is an imitation; if the intent was dishonorable, the piece is a forgery or counterfeit. A special case of struck copies occurred in Russia where Russian mints made copies of early Russian coins (as an accommodation to wealthy Russian collectors). These are called novodels, a Russian term introduced to American numismatists by writer Walter Breen. See copies and replicas.

In the past, the market for most struck copies, obviously, were coin collectors and the issuers were most often coin dealers. If the later sold these pieces as originals, this was dishonorable; if they identified the struck pieces as replicas, they were entirely legal. However, it is not with the first sale, but when these pieces come on the secondary market that a real test of legality takes place unless the seller identifies them as copies.

Early American struck copies. A number of American colonial coins and early tokens were replicated in struck copies after 1850. These numismatic items were not legal tender, were in short supply and in demand by collectors. There would be no threat of prosecution by replicating these coins and tokens so nineteenth century diesinkers reproduced them as fair game.

The most prolific American copyist was John Adams Bolen, who replicated the Bar Cent, the Confederatio Cent, Higley Coppers, Carolina Token and others. William Idler copied the Lord Baltimore penny, a Washington 1792 cent, and, secretly, the 1792 U.S. half dollar. Other prominent copyists active in the 19th century were Dr. Francis Edwards, J. Rochelle Thomas, Henry Evans, and Alfred S. Robinson. The dies for these struck copies are quite insidious, they never seem to go away. They are passed along or sold to others who issue fresh copies. The Continental Currency dollar, for example, has been issued by four American copyists: Dickeson, Elder, Bowers and Bashlow [see Breen p 111].

The problem worsened in the mid 20th century. In the U.S. a new law, brought about by rampant duplications of political buttons – the Hobby Protection Act – applied to numismatic items as well. It states all copies made after 1973 must be identified as a copy.

To read the complete entry on the Newman Numismatic Portal, see:
Struck Copy (https://nnp.washu.edu/Documents/Detail/struck-copy/4136811)

	NBS (coinbooks.org) Web