Having worked with some new tin cornice mouldings, I'd say not likely. However, you can reproduce the look with new tin panels/tiles. Those I used were made on 120 year old presses using the same patterns as in the 19th Century.

Here is a link that might be useful: American Tin ceilings

Having installed a large tin ceiling and cornice (1600 sq ft)I would say that you could probably make a decent job of it. Tin is very thin and malleable. If there are bends, they will flatten out when it's nailed back up. Creases are another matter. They will need to be flattened with hammers and dollys. The edges will be the easiest to deal with, as they get worked anyway as you install. A wood block run along the seam should mostly flatten the beaded edge. In your case, it's probably advisable to install over plywood so you can add extra nails wherever they are needed.
More worrisome is the surface condition of the old material. If the old paint doesn't come off in sheets, it will certainly begin to come off in small chips. But you can clean them up now while they are in a prone state.
I hope you removed more than you need, because there is certain to be some loss during the re-install.
Casey

I guess some people are more tolerant of "imperfections" than others. I've had constant objections by buyers that they can see the seams in the cornices, which come in four ft. lengths; some pieces have to be even shorter depending on the wall.

Just for clarity, you are not removing the existing lower ceiling. You just want to try to put the tiles back on the original ceiling, but they will be completely covered still by the new ceiling.

If that is the plan, why bother? To me, walling the tin back up might make for a nice surprise for a future restorer, but more likely than not, nobody would know they are there. If you are concerned about future owners, just put the tiles to the side and save them. If you want, you could write a little letter explaining the dropped ceiling how they fit into the original structure. That way, a future owner could decide if they wanted to reuse the tiles on the lower ceiling like you had originally planned of if they would like to raise the ceiling back up and place them in their original position.

Thanks for the replies. The tin ceiling is in long panels, not tiles. There is also a tin border with the egg and dart design around the original ceiling - very pretty.

No, will not be removing the lowered ceilings not in my lifetime anyway. Would be putting the tin panels back up on the old high plaster ceiling, and I think there were about six or seven altogether that I removed. Well, I think maybe bi111's idea is the best at this time. The note is a very good idea. All but two panels are still laying up there in the crawlspace - I'll gather up the others out in the garage and lay them up there, too or place a note on them as well. When they are found, the person or persons will say, "Now what in the heck made someone take that tin off!"

This makes me think of the basement of the 1901 house that I just bought. For some reason, there are tin tiles on the ceiling, not all of which match, but they do all go very well together. I have decided to CAREFULLY remove them and install them on my kitchen ceiling.