1847 gothic Crown

[Gary]

hello everyone,

I have not been here for a while so happy new year to you all.

A german collector has asked for my opinion on this gothic crown that he has obtained. My first reaction was forgery.... However I thought I would just check with you lot as I am certainly no expert when it comes to crowns.

The coin weighs and measures as it should do, 28,3 grams in weight and 39mm in diameter.

The edge is plain. Colour looks to be ok.

However on the rim of the coin you can see small cracks running around the edge, I have included a close up. the obv. looks very worn and to my eyes it is not natural wear and tear, looks almost like a worn die or weak strike.

I know there is a white metal plain edge version but as all strikings of this coin were supposed to have been near enough Proofs then the cracking around the rim would suggest forgery?

anyway have a look at the pics and I would be interested in your opinions,

thanks, Gary.

[Red Riley]

It is very difficult to tell just from photographs, but I have seen forged Gothic crowns before and own (what I hope is) the genuine article - now on the desk in front of me.

1) Not certain what has happened to the obverse, but it is mighty suspicious. Gothic crowns were not circulation coins and were generally produced to a very high standard so a poorly struck head would be extremely unusual.

2) The plain edge is much rarer than the standard 'Undecimo'. It is also the hardest part of a coin for a forger to produce. Very dodgy.

3) The lettering on a Gothic crown is crisp and noticeably flat topped. The lettering on this one is anything but, and looks distinctly wobbly in places.

4) I've just noticed that the strings on the harp are not straight, whereas those on the genuine article could have been produced with a slide rule.

Conclusion: It's a dud.

[Peter]

The obverse is so wrong.

They didn't circulate.

Cast iron (excuse the pun) copy.

[Gary]

Thanks very much to the two of you, particulary to Red for taking the time and effort.

After your tip about the Harp Strings I got myself a picture of a real Gothic Crown and compared the two.

Something that may be helpfull in the future....

If you look behind the Shield at the background you see a pattern (Diagonal lines). On the real one this is orientated from bottom left running up to top right. On the fake it runs the other way, bottom left to top right...... Also the Harp its self is much finer on the real coin.

Once again thank you for your opinions.

Gary