Hammer-Struck Elizabeth Shilling

Peter THOMAS- thanks for the reply! And I agree that it really does have fascinating features.

I will admit that there is a bit of a secret about this coin, but I want to get a few other opinions before I reveal too much.

If the pics are correct, you probably have an Elizabeth I silver shilling, Spink # 2555, second issue circa 1560-1560. It has a very nice and clear martlet mintmark (i.e.: the little bird looking mark at about 1 o'clock on the obverse coin. Also a very nice portrait for its age.

Probably around a "good to very good" grading, and IMHO should go for about 40 to 50 GBP (or $60 to 75 USD). Nice find!

Interesting note. I suppose he may be right, but I'm not sure I would be so quick to conclude it is a worthless coin. A couple of notes in my rather short but very compressed time studying and collecting English coins.

I'm somewhat surprised that "doesn't sound like silver" is your dealer's reason a counterfeit. I would think a more learned numismatist would measure and weigh a coin to have a better estimate. I would also think that the planchet is so thin on the shilling, so it may not have the ring that one would expect from the larger and more formed milled coins of the later years.

If it is indeed a counterfeit, then the next question is to ask when was it counterfeited. Was it one of those nefarious forgeries from China, a contemporary replica, or a counterfeit from the same century the coin was minted. If it was counterfeit from the same period of time that the coin was minted, then it may even be a more valuable find.

Just a couple of thoughts. I look forward to any other points of view on this.

Thanks!