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Replies: 8 / Views: 1,318 |
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New Member
Canada
4 Posts |
  This object was unearthed by metal detector in southern Peru along an old road. It appears to have no date and the figure is very crudely done, almost cartoonish. I hope someone can help identify it. *** Moved by Staff moved to a more appropriate forum. ***
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Moderator
 United States
34398 Posts |
@jsuaves, first welcome to CCF. Second, that is a really interesting piece that you have there. On the first pic, I see "R : PE", which could be short for Republica de Peru. I also see "EL SIG * LAU__", with that unfortunate bite out of the coin obscuring the last one or two letters of the inscription. On the other side, I see a few letters, perhaps "__EH US II"--a better picture that is in focus would definitely help.
Sorry that I can't be more helpful--hopefully someone else here will weigh in with more certainty.
"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
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New Member
 Canada
4 Posts |
Thank you @Spence. Here are some (hopefully) better pictures with a U.S. penny for scale. As you can see, it's very small. It has a greenish tint to it so may be copper.  
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2490 Posts |
I was looking at it and thinking it looks a lot like a Nuremberg jeton and then I realised that in exergue, R : PF stands for Rechenpfennig. It is a Nuremberg counter, a long way from home.
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New Member
 Canada
4 Posts |
Thanks @alganbagerap, any thoughts on who might be depicted on it and/or possible age? Bizarre that it wound up out in the desert!
Edited by jsuaves 01/12/2019 7:34 pm
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Moderator
 United States
34398 Posts |
Ok yes RPF makes good sense and is now clear--sorry about misreading the inscription. While not an exact match, your token is similar to this one from Joseph II: https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces150512.html I do note that the engraver (Lauer) would have included his name on the token.
"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
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New Member
 Canada
4 Posts |
That is quite similar and the LAU makes sense. It deepens the mystery though if it's of a similar age to the one depicted. The old road where it was found was thought to have been used by the Spanish in the late 1500s - early 1600s. It's great to get some answers though, I have always wondered about it! Edited for aha moment: E.L.Sig.Lau must stand for Ernst Ludwig Sigmund Lauer! 
Edited by jsuaves 01/12/2019 9:13 pm
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Moderator
 United States
34398 Posts |
Quote: E.L.Sig.Lau must stand for Ernst Ludwig Sigmund Lauer! Exactly! I'd probably list the inscription as EL SIG LAU[ER] on the 2x2 as the spacing suggests that the design would have included his full last name engraved on the die.
"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
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Moderator
 United States
188171 Posts |
 to the Community!
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Replies: 8 / Views: 1,318 |
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