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Replies: 7 / Views: 1,364 |
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Valued Member
Belgium
186 Posts |
Hello, A friend of mine has these two - a Zurich 40 batzen coin from 1813 and a Papal medal of 1684 (Vienna victory). I'm unable to tell whether or not these are authentic. Could you please help me? Thanks, TheCoinDom    
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Rest in Peace
United States
17900 Posts |
Both appear to be cast fakes. Look on the edge of the coins for a line where the two mold halves met. They may also have been sanded to remove the mold lines, but there should still be tell-tale indications of same.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
7939 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
I don't have sufficient experience or skill to authenticate these from screen pictures, so I will say innocent until still to be proved otherwise. It is worth noting that centrifugal pressure cast fakes can be made well enough, to have the potential to deceive people like me.
From the pictures, the surfaces suggest that they may have a greasy feel, suggesting pressure cast fake. Pressure cast fakes often show a high level of minute detail, often with no evidence of casting bubbles; that is why pressure casting is used.
A 'gut' feeling still leaves sufficient doubt in my mind, enough to take them to an experienced professional, who can examine them in hand, with a 10x loupe.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
7939 Posts |
If real, each would seem to be worth upwards of $250, so a bit of an investment in authentication would seem to be a reasonable idea.
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Valued Member
Canada
242 Posts |
I think Edge pictures would be a deal breaker in this case. I believe I have seen similar fakes in the past, White metal, the weight should be off.
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
A copper-lead alloy can be devised to equal exactly the same density as silver.
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Pillar of the Community
Austria
566 Posts |
Well, the 2nd coin (the piastra) looks a bit odd, but these were often used as jewellery, therefore what one perceives as casting marks could be just heating damage.
The first coin (the swiss 40 batzen) appears polished, but not fake.
Even if authentic, the slabbing of such coins could be a challenge.
Edited by coinworldtv 03/30/2018 07:07 am
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Replies: 7 / Views: 1,364 |
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