Not that I would be able to pay one but

Just take a look, I thought the historical section is interesting, supposingly if it's true.

LOL auction link

odd. is it legal to sell a known counterfeit?!?

Most certainly illegal but I would be interested if it was indeed passed off a genuine one in the past.

Ancient counterfeit coins are also part of numismatics. Exist many counterfeits of roman coins made by barbarians, in most cases more valuables than originals. Then, exists counterfeits of antique greek coins made in Middle Age, and medieval coins counterfeit in 19th century (Romanian Academy has bought some Becker counterfeits of Transylvanian rare coins some years ago!). I have also some 1880-1947 romanians counterfeit coins, very hard to find, and if I found one, I buy it!

I have a counterfeit 1558 Hardhead from Scotland that was likely made by French troops in Scotland during the Reign of Mary, Queen of Scots. A hardhead is a small bronze coin that was worth 1.5 pence. Curiously in Britain, Scotland and England alike, there was never an abundance of small coinage, and thus was borne the necessity of counterfeiting coinage.

When Mary was wed to Francis, the Dauphin of France, French troops were sent to Scotland to secure the situation there because of the unrest from England. Counterfeits began to circulate from many sources, but in the past few years, when the encampments of the French soldiers were excavated, molds were found that matched some known counterfeits.

Counterfeiting was an offence punishable by death, as was so in many places. Coinages in the 16th century were called in periodically so that counterfeits could be accounted for and destroyed. So thus when you do have a contemporary counterfeit nowadays it is very much scarcer than the coin it was intended to imitate.

Counterfeiting in Scotland continued up into the 19th century for small coinage, but was most prevalent during the English Civil War era ca. 1642-1660.

That coin looks too "good" to be a counterfeit from 1800's It is most propably a modern copy.
Couterfeiting is illegal, but the author who was in charge of punishing the counterfeiters hasn't been in power since 1917.

Nobody says that! It is an 1899 coin! Cannot be counterfeit in 1800's! Only in 1900's...

Hum, I am actually more interested in the edge design... the seller says that there is proper lettered edge... how proper can that be too...

Break the law, buy the coin and you'll compare with a genuine...

If the price is just right!

(*worries over my own fake coins...*)

Out of topic... have you received russian overstriked coin from french ebay?

Actually yes! I completely forgot to post it... completely stupid. Actually I was busy removing the green "algae" from it, and now the coin is in a better condition.

I will post the picture within 10mins.