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 Replies: 7 / Views: 1,168 |
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New Member
United Kingdom
2 Posts |
Hi everyone, I'll apologise in advance if this is poor form, I'm bound to get something wrong! I'm Andy and I've recently been clearing out my attic and found my old coin collection, I wasn't really into it other than I liked the look and feel of coins! There's one coin in particular I'd love to have the experts on this forum cast the benefit of their experience across. I'll try and upload suitable photos...   Now I've had a look online as far as I can, but all I get back are some ridiculous prices. Surely I can't have found a coin that's actually worth something have I? Any insight is greatly appreciated. Andy |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
695 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1788 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1788 Posts |
Aiglet  Hehe same time! |
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New Member
 United Kingdom
2 Posts |
Thanks for the replies guys, I had a lot of coins handed down through generations, there's a load of East India company ones and others from between 1835 - 1900. There is a DOA Heller coin that I was told was made from a warship cannon. I've got no doubt it's genuine, but out of curiosity is there any way to tell a fake/repro?
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Pillar of the Community
Sweden
1078 Posts |
There's a whole bunch to look out for - something you learn overtime. Primarily though it's the looks that count - like if details feel 'off', ugly looking portraits, letters looking wobbly or if the overall surface of the coin looks grainy (not to be confused with hits and nicks coins get overtime).
Another great way of determining authenticy (except from the looks of it) is to weight it to make sure it has the correct composition (different metals weight differently, usual signs of a fake is the coin being too light).
Personally I think your coin looks just fine, nice imperial piece!
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Valued Member
United States
77 Posts |
Very nice find. Congratulations
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Pillar of the Community
United States
992 Posts |
Nice coin, scarce in any grades. Go ahead and take it to a local shop and ask them to weigh it. It should be 23.32 grams, containing .6875 Troy Ounces of .917 fine silver. The silver grade matches the British India Rupee, which was widely used in the Middle East and East Africa as coinage, both in British India coins, various Indian State coins, and local Sultanates, such as Zanzibar, Muscat, etc. Germany got into East Africa late in the colonial game, and had to mimic the existing economy with their new imperial coinage. Have them weigh it, and give it a 'ring test' on the counter. Silver coins have a distinctive sound. Yours appears genuine to me, congratulations. Don't clean it, and do put it in a protective holder, such as a mylar flip, Coin World slab, or similar. |
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Replies: 7 / Views: 1,168 |
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Posted 08/05/2015 4:02 pm
