1883 Half Crown

[william]

I have a beautiful half crown dated 1883. It is a prooflike EF, but unfortunately has been used as a brooch in the past. On the obverse there are clear raised parts where someone must have attached a pin. I just wanted to know how much it would be worth now, and if there is any way I could remove the raised parts on the obverse.

Thanks,

William.

[Chris Perkins]

Very dodgy ground, I had a GVF 1821 Half Crown once with 2 huge brooch marks on the back.

If they are lead, you may be able to melt them off, but anything you do will affect the coin adversely. (Heating it up will probably speed up oxidisation and turn it unnaturally dark). The value with that kind of thing depends exactly what it looks like, and basically how much the potential owners want it.

[william]

Thanks, I may be able to post a picture if that helps.

[Chris Perkins]

Please do, I know it's hard to scan something that isn't flat though.

[william]

Here is a picture of the obverse. The reverse is problem free.

Thanks,

William.

[william]

Sorry it's massive, i had trouble resizing it!!

[Chris Perkins]

Hmm, that is bad. Just like the 1821 Half Crown I had a while back. You'll probably find the pin parts have been put on with silver, so you have very little chance of getting them off without leaving horrible stains or even worse behind.

If it's solder or lead, they'll come off maybe even with a soldering iron, but you'll still end up with stains left behind.

[william]

How much will it be worth now?

[Chris Perkins]

It all depends on how much someone would pay for it. I suppose I'd probably price it at a Fiver, but you never know it could go crazy on the open ebay market.

I'd be please to give it a go for you with my ebay id if you want.