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 Replies: 29 / Views: 4,724 |
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
348 Posts |
Hi all .. got this I a job lot of coins what do you think   |
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Rest in Peace
United States
9104 Posts |
is that some sort of mounting?
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Moderator
 Australia
16851 Posts |
It appears to be two farthings bound together in a ring of metal. I'm wondering if it might have been done to hide a gold coin like a half-sovereign between the two.
Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Rest in Peace
United States
9104 Posts |
All well and good, but how does it open?
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
128 Posts |
WOW what an unusual find. I couldn't sleep at night until I'd opened it, LOL.
Guess you'd need to carefully peel back one of the rims to open it up.
Mike.
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
As thick as it appears to be, there has to be something inside. It's going to be difficult to remove it without ruining the top coins.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
That's very interesting! A jeweler might be able to remove the bezel without too much damage?
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Valued Member
 United Kingdom
348 Posts |
Hi all .. interesting idea .. the "coin" is 21.01g a actual 1806 farthing should be 4.7g-4.8g .. so if there are two together it should be 9.4g-9.6g .. so there is 11.6g more than 2 coins together in fact there should be almost 4 1/2 farhings in it ? a 1806 farthing should be 22mm wide and 2mm thick .. this coin is 25mm at its widest and about 6mm thick ( only 3 farthings thick) .. ie: 14.1g leaving 6.9g which dose not work out ! So what could there be in the middle ? a sovereign of 1817 Closet date is 22 mm and 8g (do not know how thick) a half sovereign of 1817 is 19mm and 4g (do not know how thick) A half Guinea of 1806 is 20-21mm and 4.2g And not very thick about 2mm a 3rd Guinea of 1806 is 17mm and 2.8g also not very thick about 1mm So all could fit and if we suppose there are only 2 coins and we take 2g off for the copper edge we are left with 9.6g conclusions: One sov at 8g leaving 1.6g two half sov's leaving 1.6g two half Guineas leaving 1.4g two 3rd Guineas leaving 4.0g I could do with the true thickness of the above coins and I may help pin it down further    please discuss my mathematics as it is not my strongest subject |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
Quote:
One sov at 8g leaving 1.6g Interesting idea; the bezel might account for the remaining weight, although I don't know why one would hide gold inside, without some way to keep it from getting lost--such as a loop to attach to a watch chain, etc. I'll throw out another theory--this was constructed to be a balance weight, although I'm unsure if 21g converts to a standard unit of measure?  Edited by DVCollector
04/30/2012 5:23 pm
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
348 Posts |
I was thinking about that and the only thing I could think of would be theft or to smuggle it ?
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
128 Posts |
I find the strangest thing is that the coins used to enclose something are larger than an genuine coin of that date; also why is the bezel wider in the centre? Perhaps to enclose a coin wider than the 25mm?
It may be worth getting a jeweller to dismantle it; after all the two outside coins can't be genuine because of the oversize. I think I'd stay there while it was dismantled though; who knows what's inside.
Mike.
Edited by MikeG
05/02/2012 03:21 am
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Pillar of the Community
778 Posts |
Whatever you do, PLEASE keep us informed!
Bill
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
348 Posts |
I think I may take it to my local museam and see if I can sweet talk them .. if not .. what to do ?
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
2830 Posts |
this is not my area of expertise, but might an x-ray reveal any hollows or parts composed of different materials ?
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Valued Member
United States
57 Posts |
I don't know the base metal for a real farthing, but look at the high spots on both sides. His hair and her bust and brassy color is showing. Also everything look a bit fatter on your big coin. Some things are missing (engravers mark and trident shaft) and some things look touched up(trident points)
looks counterfeit to me.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1205 Posts |
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Replies: 29 / Views: 4,724 |
Posted 04/29/2012 06:12 am
