Strange Pillar Coin - Coin Community Forum

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Author	Replies: 8 / Views: 1,249
echizento Moderator United States 23731 Posts	Posted 04/02/2007 10:23 am As you can see this coin is in terrible condition, but some detail can still be seen. Swamperbob hoping to hear from you on this one. The coin appears to be of the Spanish Pillar type, the metal appears to be brass. On the obverse I can make out CA DEI GRA 1771 and on the reverse REX FM R S 1 H. The spanish shield is barely visable. Metal appears to be brass, 28mm 4.4 grams and .5mm thick. Any ideas as to if this may have been a real coin or just a copy. Image: s1.jpg 54.89 KB Image: s2.jpg 64.32 KB Report this Post to the Staff

gxseries Pillar of the Community Australia 3831 Posts	Posted 04/02/2007 10:28 am I don't think there were any brass like coins for that particular coin especially with those corrosion after effects! My partial coin collection http://www.omnicoin.com/collection/gxseries My numismatics articles and collection: http://www.gxseries.com/numis/numis_index.htm Regularly updated at least once a month. Report this Post to the Staff
TwoKopeiki Pillar of the Community Czech Republic 803 Posts	Posted 04/02/2007 2:38 pm I think Bob is out on a cruise boat somewhere, right now, so it might be a while until he can answer in person. It would be great if you could take a better picture, if possible. There's a good possibility that you have a contemporary counterfeit that was silver-plated at some time to pass as authentic. Corrosion or wear exposed the copper/brass core underneath. It will be 4-5 weeks until I can get my hands on a copy of Riddell's Monograph, so hopefully Bob will be back before that to give you more detailed info. Can you also describe the edge, if any remains? Cheers! ~Roman Edited by TwoKopeiki 04/02/2007 2:39 pm Report this Post to the Staff
TwoKopeiki Pillar of the Community Czech Republic 803 Posts	Posted 04/02/2007 2:46 pm Also, the weight of 4.4 grams indicates that it was most likely a 2 Reale coin (30% wear), but it's hard to say since the metal used is not silver. Report this Post to the Staff
echizento Moderator United States 23731 Posts	Posted 04/02/2007 4:11 pm Sorry that's about the best I can do picture wise. I'm pretty sure the coin is a fake, there isn't any sign of any silver on it, I can't say whether it ever had any or not. The edge is very thin at 0.5mm no detail there either. To me the wear looks like what you would see after years of being in circulation. Just a strange coin. Ron Report this Post to the Staff
swamperbob Pillar of the Community United States 5362 Posts	Posted 04/15/2007 12:17 am Definitely a counterfeit - legends are too crude to be real and the placement on the reverse is wrong. Can't be sure of age, but if contemporary the coin is likely worth $25 up. Report this Post to the Staff
echizento Moderator United States 23731 Posts	Posted 04/15/2007 07:43 am Thanks Bob. Can you tell is the wear is from circulation or artifical? Ron Report this Post to the Staff
swamperbob Pillar of the Community United States 5362 Posts	Posted 04/15/2007 08:30 am Hi Ron, As you may know most counterfeit Spanish Colonials (except the Birmingham Series) were made to look worn. This meant the dies didn't have to be so detailed and weak strikes were the norm. But on this coin there seem to be clues that most of the "wear" is artificial. On the shield side there are parallel scratches that gouge the surface. In the scan they run down at about 30 degrees from left to right. There also appears to be a bend near this same point and the scratches are not effected. Therefore the bend came after the scratches and there was little or no circulation after the scratches. The reason I doubt these are adjustment marks is the location. Most adjustment marks are seen at the center of the coin where the strike pressure does the least to remove them. At the perimeter metal flow and pressure combine to erase all but the deepest adjustment marks. They are also obvious on the HIGHEST points of the perimeter lettering. Both facts make post strike damage the obvious conclusion. Report this Post to the Staff
echizento Moderator United States 23731 Posts	Posted 04/15/2007 09:04 am Thanks again for your help. Ron Report this Post to the Staff
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