Strange 20 Reales Spain 1850

semeuse2 The coin is in all probability a very collectable Contemporary Circulating Counterfeit variety (Class 1).

The edge of the coin could determine that classification for certain. The edges made in the 1850s will not be well done based on my experience.

The weight is 3/4 of the correct weight so there is no chance it is genuine. The design is a transfer impression so it is absolutely possible that it may be a contemporary counterfeit made within the period of circulation. It is not a style of counterfeit that was made before the middle part of the 1800s.

It appears to have a brass core typical of counterfeits made to circulate after 1870. There seem to be 2 different color transitions on this coin which is odd unless it was plated twice. I have seen that on a few coins which appear to have been plated after an initial detection as a forgery.

It is likely worth $25 - 35 as long as a flood of similar coins does not suddenly hit the market. This type of counterfeit has unfortunately been replicated in this century. There are numerous examples of coins with different dates that I would now re-classify as Numismatic Forgeries (Class 3) because of the appearance of hundreds of copies all of which show little or no contemporary cancellation markings or wear.

A close examination of the edge and how the coin was made is essential to determining the classification. As a Class 3 coin it is worth no more than $10.

I saw one of these with less wear some time back. From what I observed of that one, I'm inclined to think it was a modern forgery.

The fact that Marchioni began designing this bust in 1855 and the first official issuance was in 1856 suggests that either a contemporary counterfeiter was especially careless or the modern forger was incredibly bold.

I agree that viewing edges of the OP coin could be enlightening.

Hey tenbobbit, glad to see you about. :)

To clarify, a dot after CONST is correct for the 20 reales laureate head type whereas the preceding looped braid head type spells out CONSTITUCION and has no dot after it. (I think this is what you were referring to)