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 Replies: 11 / Views: 2,637 |
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Pillar of the Community
Norway
510 Posts |
Another coin for sale on a Norwegian website, same question. I rather feel this one is fake, but I am not certain. Any input would be valued.   |
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
I don't see anything on this coin that would indicate that it's fake. It appears to be struck and not cast and the details are very sharpe. This is KM#17.2 and should weight 25 grams and be .900 silver. I would grade it as AU-58. Value listed as EF-$190 and UNC-$380.00.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1840 Posts |
If it is fake, then it is an outstanding reproduction. I agree that it is likely the real thing. I also agree the the strike is amazing! The patina on the obverse is off though. Maybe an old cleaning that has retoned?
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Pillar of the Community
 Norway
510 Posts |
Thank you for your answers. It would be nice if it was real. One of the things that worry me is this: http://cgi.ebay.com/Replica-ROMANIA...01_W0QQitemZ190316555743QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item2c4fc02ddf&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14&_trkparms=65:12%7C66:2%7C39:1%7C72:1205%7C293:5%7C294:50 A replica of the same coin. This is obviously not the exact same coin, but apart from wear, I cannot tell the difference. Quite possibly due to inexperience. |
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Valued Member
United States
240 Posts |
That fake one is that awful, white-metal color. The picture here appears to be real. If the dealer is reputable, go for it!
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Pillar of the Community
Norway
510 Posts |
I went for it! Purchased at about $80, which must have been a good price if Krause valuations are close to the mark here. The coin has recently arrived by mail, and as far as I can tell it is real. Weight 25,07 grams is just as it should be. It will fit nicely into my Davenport-inspired collection of large silver coins.
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Pillar of the Community
Norway
510 Posts |
Followup - the coin has now been graded "fake" by not one, but several Norwegian experts. A pity.
Telling things against it was the egde, which is rather broad and you can almost cut yourself on; the color, and the feel of the coin. Not likely to be silver. I am unable to say anything certain myself but I take their points.
It is not often I return anything, but I guess there are exceptions to every rule.
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
That's very interesting to learn that it's fake. Whoever made this coin did a fantastic job. Other than the color maybe looking a little odd the rest of the coin looks perfect.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5362 Posts |
Very interesting - I had not seen this thread earlier but I thought the patina looked artificial.
Not all counterfeits are cast. The cheap Chinese fakes are mostly cast but in Eastern Europe (specififcally Romania) there is a group of forgers noted for struck counterfeits and museum quality REPLICAS. The usually make ancients but I have heard that some members have branched out.
To me this looks like a RE-STRIKE perhaps officially sanctioned perhaps not - but in Romania it is NOT illegal as far as I know to reproduce older coins. It is a beautiful copy in any event.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
I have no expertise with these coins, but I also wondered about the sharp lip where the rim meets the milled edge.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5362 Posts |
The very narrow fin of metal is extruded from the coining chamber because the collar die does not fit tightly over the coin dies. Wear is a typical problem causing this fin to appear. But the maker may have been using a collar that was not made expressly for the die pair in question.
Forgers who make a large number of types of coins often slightly adjust the diameter of the dies so that they do not have to change the collar die for each different production run. A micrometer is a tool that is essential for the forger and the collector.
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Pillar of the Community
Norway
510 Posts |
Thanks for your opinion swamperbob. In one way it was a shame you missed this earlier, I would not have bought it if you had weighed in, but since I will get my money back it was not all bad to get a definite conclusion here, coin in hand. I felt it was fake but was unsure. Next time I will know more about what to look for.
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Replies: 11 / Views: 2,637 |
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Posted 07/22/2009 12:06 pm
