George III Shilling Counterfeit? - Coin Community Forum

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Author	Replies: 6 / Views: 6,766
Imasnore Valued Member Canada 360 Posts	Posted 04/25/2013 3:40 pm Here is a mystery to me. I found this 1818 George III shilling. It has milled edges, about 23.8 mm, Latin & Coat of Arms etc, weight 4.8 grams (not silver tested-non magnetic). It has blacken color which is not unusual for oxidized silver however, very 'brassy' looking. Coin was already 'rubbed' so I had it tested for silver again in the same spot and it was negative. I was curious if any other member had anything information they could share on this shilling? I can not imagine why anyone would counterfeit a shilling...let alone use a color metal that is so Brassy looking. Stamp the coin with the Monarch's profile, dated and use Latin inscription and Coat of Arms. Report this Post to the Staff

colonialjohn Pillar of the Community United States 1757 Posts	Posted 04/25/2013 3:48 pm I am familiar with these pieces. Common - actually the most common U.K. contemporary counterfeit in first half of 19thC U.K. numismatics. Brass composition but they can take on other alloys. In its original state these were given a mercuric silvering wash over this debased alloy composition. In this piece the silvering is all probably gone and the brass (Cu/Zn) has corroded. No real value - tough type to sell due to the numbers of extant examples. John Lorenzo United States Report this Post to the Staff
rooneydog Pillar of the Community United Kingdom 739 Posts	Posted 04/25/2013 3:52 pm Here is one of mine https://goccf.com/t/146049 I also have an 1819 that looks like yours Edited by rooneydog 04/25/2013 3:54 pm Report this Post to the Staff
Imasnore Valued Member Canada 360 Posts	Posted 04/25/2013 4:22 pm Great input. The silver wash was gone as I knew the weight was all wrong, I found it hard to believe anyone would counterfeit a denomination so low (risk your neck) a Half Crown or Crown, Yes, but a shilling... I like the example with laurel & berries, too. Thank You all. Report this Post to the Staff
Joseph7420 Bedrock of the Community Canada 11922 Posts	Posted 04/29/2013 9:49 pm I don't think that would be a counter fit. From what I know a easy way to tell if a coin is fake is to look at the edge and if it comes out then it's fake. Otherwise It looks like a really nice coin. Report this Post to the Staff
colonialjohn Pillar of the Community United States 1757 Posts	Posted 04/30/2013 4:21 pm Joe - Do you have any Canadian Blackmsiths you want to sell me? Cheap ... John Lorenzo United States Report this Post to the Staff
Anaximander Pillar of the Community United Kingdom 709 Posts	Posted 05/01/2013 10:20 am In 1816 the British coinage was completely reworked. Designs changed enormously over what went before. This gave a good opportunity for forgers to put out these counterfeits because ordinary people would not have been very familiar with them. A shilling (5p) does not sound much, but would have been around a day's pay for a labourer then. Report this Post to the Staff
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