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 Replies: 5 / Views: 4,605 |
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New Member
United States
11 Posts |
I've just joined this site, and everyone's replies on the other threads seem really friendly and helpful so I'm hoping someone can help me, too!
My husband just bought a coin at a local antiques fair. It's about half an inch across, bronze colour, EXTREMELY thin (although the design is still legible, not terribly rubbed off).
The obverse shows a right-facing bust-length profile of a man wearing a late-18th century style periwig (think George Washington). Around the upper edge of the coin reads "LUD XIV [illeg.]" I may be able to make out the other letters if I can find my magnifying glass.
The reverse shows a lion passant facing right, with "JOHANN CHRISTIAN REICH" around the upper edge.
Both sides have a row of dots around the edge, and it looks like the blank was struck slightly off.
The vendor we bought this coin from had it tagged as 18th century German, and also as Louis XIV (though I can't think why a French king would be on a German coin. Also, the wig style is totally wrong for Louis XIV).
I can post scans if that would help. We're interested mainly in some "biographical" information about this coin, more so than an appraisal or valuation.
Thanks in advance for any help! Edited by Sap
06/05/2008 09:39 am
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
 and yes, scans are fine  Edited by biokemist6
05/27/2008 4:39 pm
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Moderator
 United States
6563 Posts |
Can you read any kind of date on it? If there isn't one then it Normally means it's a commemorative medal or token. Waiting on scans............  |
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Moderator
 Australia
16831 Posts |
Johann Christian Reich was a jeton-maker in Nuremberg, Germany in the late 1700's; you presumably have one of his French jetons, or counters. "LUD XIV" is indeed a reference to the French king, Louis XIV. The token does have an American connection: according to CoinLink, Johann's son, Johann Matthias Reich, emigrated to America, anglicized his name to John Reich, and got a job at the US Mint, where he designed the "Capped Bust" obverse of American silver and gold coins of the early 1800's. Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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New Member
 United States
11 Posts |
Thanks to everyone who's replied so far. Here are a couple pictures of the coin, just in case anything else can be gleaned from them:   |
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Moderator
Australia
16831 Posts |
The obverse is definitely Louis XIV of France. The whole legend is similar to the abbreviated Latin which appears on French coins: LVD. XIV D.G. FR. ET NAV. REX - Louis XIV, by Grace of God King of France and Navarre.
Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Replies: 5 / Views: 4,605 |
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Posted 05/28/2008 12:30 am
