Flor Entia - Real/Fake? - Origin/Age?

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Author	Replies: 6 / Views: 8,030
extra_novice New Member United States 3 Posts	Posted 06/02/2018 08:37 am I got this coin as a child about 40 years ago from a friend who got it from his fathers collection and traded it to me.. Not sure if it is genuine or a fake? And not sure of origin and age? Per pic, it is just very slightly larger diameter than penny, metal is soft and not magnetic. Any help would be appreciated! Report this Post to the Staff

Spence Moderator United States 34472 Posts	Posted 06/02/2018 08:57 am @EN, first welcome to CCF. Second, FLOR-ENTIA would be the Italian City State of Florence. Not sure on real vs. fake. "If you climb a good tree, you get a push." -----Ghanaian proverb "The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed." -----King Adz Report this Post to the Staff
tdziemia Pillar of the Community United States 7979 Posts	Posted 06/02/2018 09:30 am It looks like a copy (in a metal other than gold) of a medieval florin, which typically had an image of John the Baptist on one side, and a fleur-de-lis on the other: Usually the legend on the side with the saint is S IOHA NNES B, a latin abbreviation for the saint's name. On your coin, it looks more like S IOHA WAE B. Maybe that's a clue to its origin... Edited by tdziemia 06/02/2018 10:13 am Report this Post to the Staff
extra_novice New Member United States 3 Posts	Posted 06/02/2018 10:26 am Spence - thanks for the welcome! tdziemia - this coin seems slightly heavier than a penny and sounds like other silver coins I have when it hits the table. It was pretty much black in color when I found it knocking around in the box with other coins after 40 years. But I gently rubbed it a little (scared to do much actual cleaning) and it looks like it would be all gold underneath. I appreciate the feedback and welcome any more from you or others. Here is maybe a little better picture of the standing figure - Report this Post to the Staff
tdziemia Pillar of the Community United States 7979 Posts	Posted 06/02/2018 1:31 pm There are replica florin coins made in brass: https://www.etsy.com/listing/238190...BEgInGfD_BwE Gold would not turn black, because it is very unreactive, but brass can tarnish, and cleaned brass (or other alloys) can look a lot like gold. You may be able to have a coin shop check whether or not it is gold. Your coin does not look exactly like the one in the link, but I still think it's more likely that the coin is a replica (perhaps an old one) than a real medieval coin. Report this Post to the Staff
extra_novice New Member United States 3 Posts	Posted 06/02/2018 10:21 pm tdziemia - thanks for your review and help on this. Unfortunately, and not surprisingly, it seems your absolutely correct on this being a replica. I did a little more digging and actually finally found the same exact coin listed on ebay. Except this one on ebay has a big 'COPY' stamped into it about halfway through the coin and mine does not.....lol. Besides that, it is identical. https://www.ebay.com/itm/2023160601...202316060171 Thanks Again!! Report this Post to the Staff
jbuck Moderator United States 191235 Posts	Posted 06/02/2018 11:57 pm to the Community! Coin Collector Since 1978 Avatar Old Avatar 7070 Eisenhower Australia Canada World CCF Members on eBay CCF eBay Search Engine Report this Post to the Staff
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