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newheart

Unidentified Variety
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Posts posted by newheart

  3. Posted

    I don't think it is pewter, though if it goes grey in a few years I will stand corrected. It feels and sounds metallic. Yes I agree about the legend, though I did read that the legends on the continental copies could be nonsense, given that most people would not be able to read them. 

    Are the edges on hammered coins usually smooth? This one is slightly rough, with a lip as if it has been stamped out of a larger piece of metal. 

    Also, if it is a modern copy I don't understand how the features seem so worn. For example, the 'rope' type beading around the kings head is smooth and levelled off. See photo. Could this be a bad pressing, or intentional deception?

    One other feature of this coin (and please remember I have been collecting coins for just a few weeks!) is that the coin is domed, it wobbles on a flat surface with a high spot in the centre of the coin.

    I am not too bothered if this is a modern copy, it was cheap and I think it will stay in my collection due to the intrigue and hours spent researching this era!

    Image1.jpg

  5. Posted

    9 minutes ago, Ukstu said:

    No. He tends to put nonsensical legends on them. Sometimes Civitas Grunal but mainly just random letters.

    Interesting. On both sides or just the reverse?

    I had a look at his catalogue, and none look like this one. The size is wrong compared to his offerings too. I re-measured mine and it is nearer 19.5mm (3/4").

    I have emailed  Moneta Grunal with a photo to ask if it is one of his. 

    • Like 2

  6. Posted

    10 minutes ago, Ukstu said:

    Looking at it close up now I'd say its one of dave greenhalgh. (Moneta Grunal). 

    Thanks, I will take a look. Does he mark his coins to indicate they are copies (or is it a  numismatics occupational risk)?

  7. Posted

    1 hour ago, craigy said:

    got a feeling its a modern copy, some one will be along who knows, just looks too clean and sharp

    Could be, though to my untrained eye is it quite convincing, with wear in the right places. Was from a seller who does not sell usually sell coins. Only cost me £11.Certainly has been educational so far!

  10. Posted

    43 minutes ago, craigy said:

    got a feeling its a modern copy, some one will be along who knows, just looks too clean and sharp

    Could be, though to my untrained eye is it quite convincing, with wear in the right places. Was from a seller who does not sell usually sell coins. Only cost me £11.Certainly has been educational so far!

  16. Posted

    Help a beginner out! I purchased my first unidentified hammered silver coin and while I am pretty confident it is an Edward The something Penny I am not sure which Edward. Let alone the mint. I have done considerable research online and made good use of my copy of Spinks Coins of England plus "Englands Striking History" but I am stumped. I have taken the best photos I can, the top 2 are not quite a natural colour, I have enhanced the contrast a little to aid identification. The bottom is near natural colour. The coin is 20mm diameter. Cannot give a weight yet (scales on order). The coin 'feels right' and is worn.

    I believe the obverse text is EDWARD REX ANGL DN. Reverse more difficult, possibly COM G/R U/V EC NIVA IIP/K E. 

    Pellet before the E of EDWARD.

    The N is of the Lombardic style.
    The cross mintmark is typical of Edward 3. 

    Can someone can tell me if this is a tri-foliate crown or not?

    Oh, and if this is a modern copy, break it to me gently but this coin was pretty cheap.Thanks in advance, Pete
     

    old-cross-silver-coin-ufo-7.jpg

    old-cross-silver-coin-ufo-3.jpgold-cross-silver-coin-ufo-4.jpg

  20. Posted

    Tried the ice test using  mrbadexample's good example, and it makes more sense. The edges of a large nickel silver type modern crown take a lot longer to get cold (5+ seconds) whereas the edges of a real silver Crown from 1812 got cold within a couple of seconds. I am pleased to report the edges of my Maria Theresia Taler also cooled very quickly, a tiny bit slower than the crown but the diameter is larger. 

  21. Posted

    On 08/10/2017 at 11:15 AM, mrbadexample said:

    As I understand it it's not about the ice cube melting but the thermal conductivity of the metal. So when you hold the coin by the edges and put the ice cube in the middle you should feel the edges become cold almost immediately if it's silver. 

    Oh I see! Will have to try it again - thanks mrbadexample.

  22. Posted

    Hi Rob, yes I read about that - it looked pretty complicated and my scales are accurate only to 1g, not 0.1g. If I had spent a lot of money on this coin I would give it a go (but then, I doubt I would buy that expensive a coin on eBay!). 

    I will live with the coin and see if it changes colour over time because I am pretty sure it has been cleaned. Cheers, Pete

  23. Posted

    On 04/10/2017 at 11:05 PM, mrbadexample said:

    I think you'll get so many different specifications because it's been minted for so long, in so many different places, that there will be variations. The weight should be pretty consistent though. Have you checked to see if yours is silver?

    No I am not sure how to check if it is silver (I don't want to damage the coin). But I did just find this site http://opencurrency.com/3-quick-ways-to-help-tell-real-silver-from-fake-silver/ and did the 3 tests: Ring test, ice test, magnetism test. I compared 3 coins: very worn old 1819 British crown (presumed silver); 1953 commemorative QE2 crown (not silver); and the Maria Theresia Taler. The results were inconclusive to say the least!

    Ring test: All 3 coins to my ears had a long pleasant bell-like ring when flicked in the air with my thumb nail

    Ice test: The ice cube began melting the moment it was put on each coin with no appreciable difference.

    Magnetism test: none of the coins were at all magnetic (I have a very strong large neodymium magnet)
     

    Will look for other tests!

  24. Posted

    Hi Rob, You said "30g is too much. Should be 28g or a midges over. 41mm is the correct diameter. " Too much for what - a non sliver copy? btw Wiki says "The thaler is 39.5–41 mm in diameter". But everywhere I look I get different specification for this coin! I am not too worried about its provenance; it is a pretty coin and I like it. But I am curious to know more.

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