1996 Great Britain Pound - Possible Mule

[Guest Steve]

I picked up the the coin attached in the scan in a junk box. It is a Great Britain pound dated on the obverse 1996 (KM 972), but the reverse is the Plantagenet lions (KM975). According to my version of Krause the 1996 pound (KM972) should have a Celtic collar on cross reverse, not the Plantagenet lions (KM975) reverse. This coin does appear to be softly struck at certain points. It weighs 9.5g. It's edge inscription is reeded with the words "DECUS ET TUTAMEN", but the reeding appear slightly off center of the edge. Is my version of Krause in error or is this a mule? If it is a mule, is it already known and what is it's value? I have also been told it may be a counterfeit. Anything you can tell me would be greatly appreciated.

[Rob]

I picked up the the coin attached in the scan in a junk box. It is a Great Britain pound dated on the obverse 1996 (KM 972), but the reverse is the Plantagenet lions (KM975). According to my version of Krause the 1996 pound (KM972) should have a Celtic collar on cross reverse, not the Plantagenet lions (KM975) reverse. This coin does appear to be softly struck at certain points. It weighs 9.5g. It's edge inscription is reeded with the words "DECUS ET TUTAMEN", but the reeding appear slightly off center of the edge. Is my version of Krause in error or is this a mule? If it is a mule, is it already known and what is it's value? I have also been told it may be a counterfeit. Anything you can tell me would be greatly appreciated.

Is it a forgery? The detail is awful

[Emperor Oli]

Is it a forgery? The detail is awful

Sounds good to me. It's a bit offstruck to boot.

[Guest Guest]

I picked up the the coin attached in the scan in a junk box. It is a Great Britain pound dated on the obverse 1996 (KM 972), but the reverse is the Plantagenet lions (KM975). According to my version of Krause the 1996 pound (KM972) should have a Celtic collar on cross reverse, not the Plantagenet lions (KM975) reverse. This coin does appear to be softly struck at certain points. It weighs 9.5g. It's edge inscription is reeded with the words "DECUS ET TUTAMEN", but the reeding appear slightly off center of the edge. Is my version of Krause in error or is this a mule? If it is a mule, is it already known and what is it's value? I have also been told it may be a counterfeit. Anything you can tell me would be greatly appreciated.

Is it a forgery? The detail is awful

Thanks for the quick response. So you think it is a forgery and therefore worthless? Is ther any other attributes to look for to determine if it is real or fake?

[TomGoodheart]

Counterfeits quite often feel different. If you rub one between thumb and finger they seem slick by comparison with the genuine article - some people describe it as 'soapy'. Poor edge graining is also common. I have read an estimate that 1% of £1 coins are counterfeit.

I'm not sure if there's an easy test - I know nickel is slightly magnetic but when I tried this with a counterfeit £1 coin which I know is made of lead, it too is magnetic - presumably they just mixed some iron filings in the metal before casting. No doubt there's a way of distinguishing brass (from which most counterfeit coins are made) and CuNi, but I can't remember enough chemistry to come up with a test you can do at home!!

Edited August 5, 2006 by TomGoodheart