GOLD SIXPENCE?

[KenC]

I found an old coin in a collection of culls I bought. It was very incrusted, but when I cleaned the coin enough to see what it was, I found what looks exactly like a 1816 or 1818 sixpence,even the size, but it looks as if it's made of gold and it is only 1.7g. The yellow metal is softer than brass. I just do not know what I have. It looks as though it was run over but a lot of the details are still visible. The date I'm not sure of. It looks like 1818 but could be 1816. The picture is the best I could take. I hope someone can tell me what I have here.

[Chris Perkins]

If it was gold it'd be heavier. I suspect it's a sixpence that someone has made to look like gold in order to pass it off as a half sovereign. Or, some kind of forged sixpence.

[nik a tron]

its a george 111 half soverreign

[Chris Perkins]

its a george 111 half soverreign

No it isn't! The design is wrong and so is the weight.

I admire your eagerness nik a tron, but until you actually have a rough idea about what you're talking about, perhaps you better listen(read) more and ask questions instead of making statements.

[scottishmoney]

It is a sixpence, it is possible that it toned to that colour after being harshly cleaned, or that it was plated sometime after it sat in the ground.

[KenC]

If it was gold it'd be heavier. I suspect it's a sixpence that someone has made to look like gold in order to pass it off as a half sovereign. Or, some kind of forged sixpence.

[Peter]

A genuine pre 1816 6d will weigh 3g and have a 21mm dia.

Post 1816 of this type will weigh 2.8g and have a 19mm dia.

I believe you have a forgery.

ps Gold of the above sizes will nearly be twice as heavy.

[KenC]

It is a sixpence, it is possible that it toned to that colour after being harshly cleaned, or that it was plated sometime after it sat in the ground.

It is NOT plated or toned to a golden color. This coin is exactly the same size as the old sixpence BUT IT IS ONLY HALF AS THICK. This yellow metal is as soft as gold I.E.if you was to bite it it would leave your teeth marks plus the coin is ridgid but bendable. The weight of 1.7 g may be off because of wear.

[Chris Perkins]

Then you need to get it tested (electronically or chemically) to find out if it really is gold and how pure it is.

[KenC]

Then you need to get it tested (electronically or chemically) to find out if it really is gold and how pure it is.

Thank you, I think your right. Before I look into what it might or might not be, I'd better have it tested for material.

[Chris Perkins]

Who knows what strange alloys the forgers used back then. Brass with lead, or who knows.

But, the coin looks of inferior quality and it's too light. If it was gold and even heavily worn gold and thinner it would have to be over 1.7g in weight.

I bet that it turns out not to be gold, and as mentioned above it's most probably a forged 6d made of god knows what.

Do let us know.

[KenC]

Who knows what strange alloys the forgers used back then. Brass with lead, or who knows.

But, the coin looks of inferior quality and it's too light. If it was gold and even heavily worn gold and thinner it would have to be over 1.7g in weight.

I bet that it turns out not to be gold, and as mentioned above it's most probably a forged 6d made of god knows what.

Do let us know.

I think the coin is to light because of the heavy cleaning, But your right, only God knows what or why this coin came into being. It could be made out of most anything. It's hard to find out about British coins here in this part of the world. Smyrna, Maine. U.S. Most people here collect American. I like the beauty of coins from many countries. I have the Krause world coin books from 1701 to the present, but sometimes does'nt help much with odd coins. Your remark of forged 6d made me wonder why it would be worth forging. Then I read in the Krause 1801-1900 book that a very few gold 6d pattern's were released in 1816. This would explain why anyone would try and forge one. I am still going to have the metal tested, I compaired it to an 1838 silver 6d I have, and as I have said it is exactly the same diameter but less than half the thickness. I think it IS a forged coin. I'll let you know later.

[TomGoodheart]

I have to say that although I've seen forgeries of Geo III shillings (usually brass) I've not come across a sixpence. Very curious and an interesting piece of 'numismatic' history.

Do let us know anything more you find out about it won't you Ken?

[KenC]

I have to say that although I've seen forgeries of Geo III shillings (usually brass) I've not come across a sixpence. Very curious and an interesting piece of 'numismatic' history.

Do let us know anything more you find out about it won't you Ken?

Yes, I sure will. Thank you, Ken

[Rob]

Your remark of forged 6d made me wonder why it would be worth forging. Then I read in the Krause 1801-1900 book that a very few gold 6d pattern's were released in 1816. This would explain why anyone would try and forge one.

It's much more likely to be an imitation half sovereign. The public don't come into contact with patterns, or at least they never used to unlike today's mint output. To pass as a forgery, it has to resemble currency.

[KenC]

Your remark of forged 6d made me wonder why it would be worth forging. Then I read in the Krause 1801-1900 book that a very few gold 6d pattern's were released in 1816. This would explain why anyone would try and forge one.

It's much more likely to be an imitation half sovereign. The public don't come into contact with patterns, or at least they never used to unlike today's mint output. To pass as a forgery, it has to resemble currency.

I had a chemical gold test done on this coin today,IT IS A FAKE. It was made as I've said to resemble a 6d, Not a 1/2 sovereign.Even the coin dealer who did the test said it does look like a 1816 6d. But who knows what the soft yellow metal is. It looks old but again there's no way to tell.We will never know why this came to being, but it is only something to talk about, nothing more, THANKS ALL, Ken

[Chris Perkins]

It would have been silvered originally. I expect it has brass in it in some proportion!

[KenC]

It would have been silvered originally. I expect it has brass in it in some proportion!

Yep, the dealer thought it was a combination with maybe lead to get it soft. But we can't figure why it is made to resemble a 6d. There is no silver coin in it. It could be a cheap kids coin I guess. It was encrusted with a black layer of something very hard to remove. I'll throw it in a chest for someone else to ponder over after I'm gone.

[Chris Perkins]

If it was once coloured silver it could have been mistaked for a 6d. I have base metal GIII coins, including some very yellow ones that have remains of a silver colour in protected areas.

[josie]

WELCOME KEN.

[KenC]

If it was once coloured silver it could have been mistaked for a 6d. I have base metal GIII coins, including some very yellow ones that have remains of a silver colour in protected areas.

That's possible, There is now no silver remains at all. But as you say It could have been thin enough to corrode away. It looks very old but could have been made only a short while ago. whatever it is, it has been interesting, Thanks, Ken