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 Replies: 9 / Views: 1,877 |
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New Member
United Kingdom
3 Posts |
I have been asked by elderly neighbour to research and sell this coin or medal if it has any value. It is dark brown in colour (with mould?!), is about 36mm in diameter, 2-3mm thick & weighs just over 1¼ oz. The front has a left facing bust of what looks like an old Pope and the words JOANNES VII P M. The back has a coat of arms or crest which looks like an image I have seen on a medal on the "Vatican coins" site, but this one isn't there. Any ideas? Many thanks for any assistance given.   |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
Oh wow! That is cool. I doubt its a coin - not much on it. Its definitely papal - that is a papal crest. Its representing pope Joannes VII - or, if you prefer, John VII, who was pope in the 700s - this isn't that old, I reckon its some sort of 1000th anniversary coin of Pope John, which would make it 1705-7. However, this looks a lot like a conder token kind of thing and isn't particularly inkeeping with coins from that period - at first guess, not knowing anything about whats its representing id say 1790. ON LOOKING UP SIMILAR PIECES: This could be a papal medal from the 1500s - or a copy of one, which would make it valued at $100 and upwards - id say upwards, this is in great condition. However, I think it is a papal medal made to commemorate old popes - placing it about 1720-90, which matches the design style of the coin - is it dated, or does it have an edge inscription? *** Edited by Staff - Please Review the rules that you agreed to when you registered. *** |
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New Member
 United Kingdom
3 Posts |
Hi. I am shocked someone has replied to me - thanks! I have had a good look with a magnifying glass but I can't see a date but what I could see more clearly with the glass was that the edges are very uneven, gold/copper coloured and the edge is full of straight-ish irregular scratches! Also, on the back, up from the bottom, there is a silver "pin-head like" thing sticking out (you can almost see it in my photo). I suspect if I clean it I may see more but, as I don't know what it is made from, I wouldn't know what to use. I have never heard of a "conder token" so thank you for that - I will search under that name to see if I can find out more about what it is, as that it will help me (or rather my neighbour)decide what to do with it. Many thanks for your help.  |
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Rest in Peace
United States
7075 Posts |
DO NOT CLEAN IT. Please, you could permanently damage it with any kind of metal polish. They will scratch it. There are a lot of threads here about cleaning and you should really read up on it first.
From what you describe about the scratches on the rim, my guess is that the medal was once inside of a bezel and was therefore a pendant or other piece of jewelry.
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New Member
United Kingdom
3 Posts |
Ok, I will take your advice and won't attempt to clean it to make it look better. I spent hours last night looking under conder tokens but still no joy. I can find similar coins/medals but not this one. Frustrating. Not being a coin collector, my ignornace is annoying. I expected to find a picture of it during one of my searches! Not that easy. Many thanks for everyone's help.
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New Member
United States
9 Posts |
Hi -- I am trying to help erin999 as well. It is a tough one. The closest I could find is this one from Coin Archives. Does it shed any more light? The shield and keys pattern is obviously the same.  Here is CA's description. Auction price was 160 GBP. Italy. Papal Medals. Clement V (c. 1264-1305-1314), Raymond Bertrand de Got. Cast Bronze Restitutional Medal, in the style of Girolamo Paladino, bust left wearing embroidered cope, rev blank shield over crossed keys, tiara above, 41mm (Linc 279). Very fine. The series of Papal Restitutional medals by Paladino and his workshop seems to have been pretty much a factory production line; for this medal the line seems to have failed as the arms were omitted. The medal is recorded (Linc 278) with the arms correctly completed. Clement V, who is remembered for suppressing the Order of the Knights Templar, was the Pope who moved the Papacy to Avignon. From the Michael Hall Collection (Part Two) £80-120 Best, Paul Richards CoinQuest |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3486 Posts |
This is too good a detective story to ignore, so I am posting this to keep an eye on how things go.
I only wish that I could offer something constructive.
I, too, took one look at the reverse and said "Vatican," only to change my mind and to say "Papal States."
Not a coin but rather a medal of some kind. "What kind of medal?" is the challenge. A very worthy problem to be sure.
And now, TWO different exmples? The plot thickens ...
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3486 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1721 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1721 Posts |
matthewvincent,
I should have looked at your link before I posted my link. Yours is much better.
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Replies: 9 / Views: 1,877 |
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Posted 11/18/2012 6:00 pm
