Copper "1783 Chalmers Shilling" - Coin Community Forum

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Author	Replies: 8 / Views: 1,987
yugotex Valued Member United States 71 Posts	Posted 07/03/2016 1:06 pm Here's a mystery piece...came to me in a box lot of US old coins. Looks like a worn 1783 Chalmers Shilling but has Copper (not Silver) obverse/reverse with about 70-80% of edge showing a light colored core. Weighs ~3.9 grams. My searching & limited discussion w/others found no other examples but for a similar piece at this museum: http://www.mfa.org/collections/obje...uction-45345 Probably this piece is a fake but never know...if you have any ideas, please advise. Now on ebay (371671448636). Your help most appreciated. Report this Post to the Staff

chequer Pillar of the Community Canada 4227 Posts	Posted 07/03/2016 1:50 pm That's interesting. The museum seems to think their piece is an electrotype and this has the makings of one too. Too bad there's not more history with it (provenance and such). *just noticed the seller says theirs is slightly heavier than the museum's. Edited by chequer 07/03/2016 1:52 pm Report this Post to the Staff
Conder101 Bedrock of the Community United States 17884 Posts	Posted 07/04/2016 11:00 am Well it does appear it may be an electrotype of a Chalmers short worm shilling. I don't see an image on the museum listing so I can't tell if it is from the same person. If this is an old electro it would have some value. (People really don't make electrotypes anymore) It doesn't look like a modern fake. Report this Post to the Staff
hoosiergator Valued Member 204 Posts	Posted 07/04/2016 11:24 am Does seem to look like an electrotype. Report this Post to the Staff
yugotex Valued Member United States 71 Posts	Posted 07/04/2016 2:14 pm Thanks for the info/comment. Am reasonably sure it's not a modern fake. No history with this piece so wondering...why did someone produce a Chalmers Shilling electrotype? Not silver so it was not meant to deceive. Any thoughts? Report this Post to the Staff
Conder101 Bedrock of the Community United States 17884 Posts	Posted 07/05/2016 8:04 pm Two reasons, these have always been rare and an eletrotype was often the only way a collector would have to represent a piece, secondly photography basically didn't exist before 1840, and even later it left a lot to be desired. The easiest way to show someone what a rare coin really looked like was to make and send an electrotype.The recipient could then see what it looked like and use it as a comparison piece if they were lucky enough to find another one. Report this Post to the Staff
yugotex Valued Member United States 71 Posts	Posted 07/06/2016 05:41 am A perfectly reasonable explanation...sincere thanks. Report this Post to the Staff
MeadowviewCollector Pillar of the Community United States 4409 Posts	Posted 07/11/2016 4:51 pm This sold for $261. It goes to show one never knows how the bidding will go. -MV Report this Post to the Staff
GR58 Bedrock of the Community United States 11951 Posts	Posted 07/11/2016 7:32 pm Good information. Always nice to learn something new on CCF Report this Post to the Staff
	Replies: 8 / Views: 1,987

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