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Guatemala 1/4 Quetzal 1946, Strange Fake Coin

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Valued Member
Johnathan55's Avatar
United States
128 Posts
 Posted 06/04/2018  04:23 am Show Profile   Bookmark this topic Add Johnathan55 to your friends list Get a Link to this Message Number of Subscribers
This is less of a "Is this fake?" post and more of a "Why did they fake this?" post.

Found this in a bundle of world coins. It's a fake 1/4 Quetzal coin from Guatemala. Aside from the weird appearance, it's almost a full gram heavier than it should be. The real coin is also supposed to be silver, but when ping tested it just makes a short dull thud.

The value for this coin in the SCOWC is $10 to $20. Why take all the time and effort to fake a coin with such a low value? Strange.

Images:


Guatemala-1/4-Quetzal-1946,-Strange-Fake-Coin


Guatemala-1/4-Quetzal-1946,-Strange-Fake-Coin
Rest in Peace
moxking's Avatar
United States
17900 Posts
 Posted 06/04/2018  09:45 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add moxking to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Perhaps a contemporary forgery made for the purpose of circulation during that time.
Pillar of the Community
United States
1666 Posts
 Posted 06/04/2018  10:26 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Numismat to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
I agree with moxking. It has the look and also what appears to be remnants of a lighter, more silvery looking gilding on at least the reverse. Cool piece :)
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X2an's Avatar
Sweden
1078 Posts
 Posted 06/05/2018  02:37 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add X2an to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
A lead fake. Since 1/4 Quetzal was a fair amount of money back then, any fake could probably make a profit. Additionally, due to lead's high malleability it can easily be shaped to a common circulation coin. I have a lead fake Swedish 1 krona 1956 and Hungarian 50 Filler, 1930's. They don't seem to be too rare and yet they almost look real in terms of design and quality. I understand how they made it to irculation at the time.
Valued Member
Johnathan55's Avatar
United States
128 Posts
 Posted 06/05/2018  03:41 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Johnathan55 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Very interesting, With all the modern made fakes going around I didn't think about it being made to circulate as currency during its time, I forgot how much spending power small coins like these used to have.

Kind of a silly question, I didn't realize it was lead. Is it safe for me to be handling this "coin" without gloves? It's pretty interesting so I'll be keeping it but I think i'll store it safely in a flip or something, hah.
Edited by Johnathan55
06/05/2018 03:43 am
Pillar of the Community
United States
1666 Posts
 Posted 06/05/2018  06:51 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Numismat to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Handling it is fine, just don't lick your fingers afterwards :)
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