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Posted 11/09/2013 4:04 pm
I have spoken with Grahem Dyer( some time ago) of The Royal Mint. Graham was the same person who discussed the fish tailing with Broome....and I have a copy of grahams answer to Broome. The fish tailing ( based on Xray florescence) seems to occur on Indian mint coins( identified by a very slight gold content, as well as zinc lead and tin) Graham agreed with me the fish tailing might actually be an indicator for the Indian mints. I wouldn't recommend relying on Hafner for identifying the Indian mint coins( ie the photographs in his book). For the Indian mint coins particularly bombay Hafner based his work on that of Stokes.....and Stokes based his description( at least of Bombay strikes) on an example ,since lost, held by The Royal Mint. However that example was actually a trial strike from polished dies ....and I have never seen one that matches Stokes description. The only guaranteed way to identify Indian mint coins is XRay florescence At the time the Indian mints were producing MTTs their silver refining process were not very efficient so trace amounts of gold are found in the Indian mint coins. YOu also find trace amounts of gold in very early re-strikes for the same reason. IMHO the most important coin for someone to find would be the Bombay mint gold Abschlag MTT presented to King Farouk.....that coin where ever it is will give clear identifiers for the Bombay mint.
Of your photos I would say the first is definitely London and the second ( with the fishtailing) is possibly Indian. All coins have some variation in weight ad size.....With modern struck coins the variation is very slight....with the MTT, as a more primitive striking process was used, the variation can be slightly larger.
Of your photos I would say the first is definitely London and the second ( with the fishtailing) is possibly Indian. All coins have some variation in weight ad size.....With modern struck coins the variation is very slight....with the MTT, as a more primitive striking process was used, the variation can be slightly larger.
Edited by austrokiwi
11/09/2013 4:08 pm
11/09/2013 4:08 pm
