US Scott 444 Fake - Looks Like Badly Trimmed 463

I would love an opinion on this (apparently) unwatermarked type 1 A140 stamp with what clearly looks like a cut off bottom?

Please and thank you!

looks like some perf remnants across the top

Thank you stampcrow, I hadn't noticed that until you said it - I could see the bottom clearly but on further exam you are right. Glad I didn't buy it BUT it is a good lesson in bad fakery.

When fakers/forgers make a coil W/F stamp, its done with a less expensive sheet perf'ed. or imperforate stamp to make a more expensive coil stamp, and they would normally pick a pretty good example of the stamp they intend to cut the perfs. off of or add perfs. to etc. Its hard to see why someone who have made this to increase value--there are short perfs. and pulled perfs., and the bottom is cut into the design--which I don't think someone faking a coil would intentionally do. I don't see this stamp having any real value as a #444. I can't see the top margin well enough to see if its been cut after production, but, if cut, it doesn't look sharp enough, as best I can tell. I guess it could be a poorly centered #444, or a poorly centered sheet margin type one bottom row stamp with the top cut roughly (?), or maybe a practice piece a faker used to hone his skill? What does it measure straight edge to straight edge a 3-4 points across the stamp? If "genuine" it would measure a minimum of 24.5mm but ideally 25.0mm or a bit better. 24.5mm is iffy but there are genuine coils measuring that. No matter what it really is, there's not any appriciable value in it. I'm really not sure whats going on with it but above are some thoughts. Perhaps others may have better suggestions for you.

jfk, I was just making an observation really. I should have said that in my post. I wasn't making a definitive opinion on fake or real.

It measures 19 x 22 mm. To be honest I never thought it had any value.

I posted it just out of curiosity (as to others experiences with fakes/forgeries) and for educational value (my own included). It came from a reputable person who wasn't trying to pass it off as a higher value (it was GIVEN to me in a large batch of Washington 2 cents). I found it interesting that it is such an obvious fake that my 14 year old figured it out fairly quickly (although, he is pretty good with identification).

I sincerely appreciate the comments and the time and effort it takes to help out!