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 Replies: 12 / Views: 2,115 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1666 Posts |
Hi folks, Recently acquired this coin, while researching to determine value I came across another with a very similar punch mark in the same spot: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotvi...50b59950e799. At first I thought it was regular damage, but I am wondering if this is perhaps a contemporary practice, such as an assayer test punch. If so, would this lessen the effect of the punch compared to if it were more recent damage? Thanks! =)   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5362 Posts |
Test punches were used in many different time periods to check for plated counterfeit coins. This was extremely prevalent in the late colonial and early republican periods. I have seen hundreds from DIFFERENT locations damaged in similar fashion. When these coins were in circulation damage that did NOT fully penetrate the coin was not a problem since the metal remained.
I would view it as simple post strike damage.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1666 Posts |
Thanks again for the assessment Swamperbob, it's great to have some insight on historical practices.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
Wow, that's a really rare coin!  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1666 Posts |
Yea I was pleasantly surprised by this one. Didn't really get a good look at it when viewing the lot, but from what I saw I figured it was a Central American Republic 1 real. I was stunned to see that it was the Guatemala provisional type.
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Pillar of the Community
France
1591 Posts |
Very scarce coin, and in good shape :)
Excellent find !
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
2830 Posts |
I find coins of this era very interesting.
What is the significance of the letters "NG.M", please ?
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Pillar of the Community
France
1591 Posts |
I'd place a bet on Nuevo Guatemala, essayer M ...
But I don't have books on hand to check :D
Yep, that period is indeed very interesting, many new nations being created from the ancient spanish empire.
It's also a hard to collect period, with many temporary issues.
It will be my next goal once I start to only have hard to get spanish coins left to find :)
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1666 Posts |
Nueva Guatemala mint, assayer Manuel Eusebio Sanchez.
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Pillar of the Community
France
1591 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
651 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
3692 Posts |
Interesting how they punch it onto the engraver's initials, as if that helps assay it a bit more. :P
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1666 Posts |
I guess if something isn't right, it's the assayers fault, so they punch out his initial just in case lol.
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Replies: 12 / Views: 2,115 |
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Posted 09/13/2011 12:52 am
