Since the Pistareens have come up again, I decided to express my opinion here and do a follow-up with MathieuMa if needed.
They are all forgeries.
One is too light in weight at 5.9 grams. This coin is dated 1765 Mo M. This one has a fairly clear trace of an edge seam. The coin itself is a pressure cast made using a transfer mold. I believe the host was a real 2R so the design appears correct in the details. The problem is first of all the weight. Far too much detail remains for a weight of only 5.9 grams. The correct weight is 6.77 grams - which equates to a loss of 0.87 grams or over 12 % of the original weight. ANY 2R worn to that level should be FLAT with virtually NO DETAIL AT ALL. Beyond that is of course the trace of an edge seam and the grinding marks on the edge noted elsewhere. The coin also has the surface features common to pressure castings. They pick up all of the surface features of the original but with some loss of transitional details.
We have discussed in the past how the transitions between punched details and the field should be SHARP unless there is evidence of excessive die erosion. There is no die erosion present but the transitions are rounded pointing to a cast transfer step. This feature never shows well in pictures so I did not try.
The other two coins dated 1745 and 1755 both supposedly from Mexico City with Assayer M are just over 6.90 grams each. That is simply
TOO HEAVY. Both coins show apparent wear to VF levels - and I would estimate that an MS version (pre-wear) would tip the scales at just over 7 grams. That is just over 3% heavy and is outside an acceptable normal range - especially for two examples0les coming from the same source. These two coins also show casting traces identical to the 1765.
So it is clear to me that a nice 3 decade, 3 King set of forgeries does in fact exist and they are being made in China. The coins ring fairly well but short duration. I could not get an accurate SG because of air clinging to the coins (and the size of a 2R which is never great for SG anyway. BUT based on physical dimensions I suspect copper nickel alloy. They are cast so any form of silver plate is ruled out.
These coins are executed well enough so that the average Novice will have problems. They are copied from actual coins and they use all the correct design elements. It used to be that the Chinese made rather obvious errors - wrong King or wrong assayer initials or poor designs on the edges - BUT things are changing and these coins are dangerous.
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Posted 10/09/2011 8:09 pm
