Drachm Alexander (Teos) - Is There Something Wrong With This Coin?

For comparison, here's a similar reverse from another Price 2265...same die?

In my opinion the OP coin is fine. It appears to have some lamination issues in the reverse center, with some surface silver having been pulled away. I don't know if the toning is "enhanced" - but it looks nice.



By the way, I will add that I see your coin is ex-Dr. Busso Peus Nachfolger (I spotted it online). Good dealer who I've also purchased from.

I'm certainly no authority on this stuff. I do know this very question you pose has been asked many times before by collectors who were trying to determine whether their coins were fourees or not. So, obviously, it's sometimes difficult to distinguish between the two.

If we're talking about a silver coin, the simple answer is to look at the metal that is exposed from the coin's interior. If it is a base metal, then the silver was a plating and the coin is a fouree. If the interior is of the same material, then you're likely dealing with a lamination defect (which I've also seen referred to as "delamination").

Sometimes it is easy to see that the interior is of the same metal (these two are from Forum's discussion board):


(Gruesome delamination above, demonstrating that thick layers can break away...I suspect internal crystallization here, followed by someone dropping/bumping the coin - but I've read that delamination more typically results from impurities in the planchet from which the coin was struck)



But in the case of a deeply toned silver coin, where both interior and exterior are dark, I can imagine it might be difficult to ascertain.

Here's a billon tet of mine with some major lamination issues, and perhaps some attempted repairs done at some point in its history. Ugly situation, but from an important collection...and, in any event, even our ugly children deserve our love:

I agree the coin is genuine. I wondering if the darker area in the center reverse is a repair to a worse lamination issue?

Thanks a lot guys for your detailed answers and quality feedback!
I actually learned something... and why not? I must say I also feel relieved :)


Best!
D